Sci-Fi’s Top 10 Non-Mad Scientists

Science fiction is full of evil geniuses, but not all sci-fi scientists want to take over the world. Here’s Alasdair Stuart’s tribute the boffins who wear white hats with their white coats

Firstly, whilst we accept Mr Stark’s formal protest that he should be on this list, and acknowledge his numerous inventions and breakthroughs, we’d also like to point Mr Stark to the “billionaire”, “playboy” and “philanthropist” sections of his self-written job description. Also, we’d like, at this time, to ask Ms Potts to get Mr Stark to sit down and be quiet. Again.

Hello everyone, welcome to the 10 best non-mad scientists in science fiction. These are the brave men and women who have not only seen the future but done everything they can to make it happen. These are the architects of the futures we love, covering everything from robotic psychology to dinosaur herding and how to fight irradiated bodysnatching aliens who’ve been here for the last few decades. So put your lab coat on and get ready for some brave new worlds, because we’re about to do science!

10 Alan Grant

Jurassic Park, Jurassic Park 3

The grumpy, pragmatic half of the coin of science that is Jurassic Park, Alan Grant is the calm heart of the movie’s storm of panicky, stabby, screamy dinosaur goodness. Grant’s an interesting figure because in some ways he’s the least action-y action hero ever; after all, he does spend most of the movie solving problems passively and helpfully identifying dinosaurs for the other characters and us.