this post was submitted on 15 Jul 2025
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Science Memes

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Welcome to c/science_memes @ Mander.xyz!

A place for majestic STEMLORD peacocking, as well as memes about the realities of working in a lab.



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If you are here asking: "Is this a science meme?"

Probably, yes. We use the Dawkins definition of meme: a replicating idea, not just an image macro with a fact on it. A good post here doesn't need to teach you something. It needs to make you ask something: who, what, where, when, and especially why or how.

Science isn't a filing cabinet of facts, it's a conversation. For example, a photo of an eel or other localized wildlife counts because most people never see one, and wonder is the first step of inquiry. A car meme counts if it makes you curious about what's under the bonnet. If you want to talk about something you noticed in the world, chances are someone else wants to talk about it too.

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See the pinned paper on Shitposting as Public Pedagogy if you want the academic case for why this works.



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[–] rudyharrelson@lemmy.radio 22 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago)

It is extremely common for classes to require students to learn to use proprietary software. It’s a tool of the trade.

I understand that; my position is more ideological than practical. In an ideal scenario, AutoDesk, Adobe, Microsoft, etc wouldn't be so deeply entrenched in their respective fields such that they are the de-facto tools of the trade for every business which must be learned in order to be hired. I know a given student has to learn certain proprietary tools in the current academic and professional environment. My comment was saying I would prefer this not to be the case. I am fully aware that proprietary software domination in the academic and professional spaces is not going away any time soon.

In my ideal scenario, an interviewer at a company would ask, "Can you perform the following edits to a given graphic?" instead of "Can you use Photoshop?" since the former allows for candidates who can use alternatives like GIMP. I understand company pipelines aren't set up for this, either, because company pipelines are also deeply entrenched in proprietary software.

The OP's photo is specifically about professors allowing other software to be used. Which would be a good starting point for making these kinds of changes.