Under laboratory conditions. Part 1, Homo scientificus.

Presented by Daniel Glaser, this is the first of a two-part series about science illustrated by archive footage of scientists, much of it showing highly stereotpyed views, and using accounts from an enormous number of people, more or less well-known, working in many different areas of science. This part focuses particularly on the life-cycle of a scientist. Glaser visits Professor Sir Christopher Frayling from the Royal College of Art who is studying how children view scientists - apparently 80-90% of them think scientists are 'mad.' John Copley, Cornelia de Moor and Richard Templer talk about what it's like to make a scientific discovery and we get an insight into how scientific education works. Tim Hunt describes what it was like to win the Nobel Prize. Oliver Choroba, Bill Bryson and Steve Yeaman describe the hardships of being a scientist. Stephen Dealler describes his research into BSE and Don Simms whose son has Variant CJD describes his battles with the scientific community to get a new drug. Colin Blakemore responds to his criticism. Robert Winstone talks about scientific competitiveness and we visit The Royal Society. Arpad Puzztai describes being rejected by the RS while Lena Erikkson and Robert May defend the society. The discussion then turns to how to get your work known about either by publishing or attending conferences; we visit the offices of Nature magazine. The importance of laboratory work is described by Philip Cohen in particular. The programme ends with many of the programme's participants describing why they are a scientist.