List of heroic fictional scientists and engineers
In contrast to the archetypical mad scientist, there are a lesser number of heroic scientists and engineers depicted in western culture who use their skills and knowledge for the betterment of others.
Individually acknowledged heroes:
- Martin Arrowsmith, hero of the eponymous novel by Sinclair Lewis.
- Dr. Susan Calvin - Chief robot-psychologist in Isaac Asimov's I, Robot and other robot stories.
- Commander Data - An android in the television series and movies based on Star Trek: The Next Generation, where his vast scientific knowledge is often critical for saving the day.
- Professor Abraham van Helsing, the nemesis of Bram Stoker's Dracula. In later incarnations, the professor has not fared so well, and, in some adaptations, is himself a villain.
- Professor Roy Hinkley aka simply The Professor in the television series Gilligan's Island where he is the respected de facto leader of the Castaways and usually represents the only real continual hope of rescue.
- Indiana Jones, heroic archaeologist.
- Maxim Kammerer - The Strugatsky brothers' SF character, who tried to seek the works of The Timewanderers.
- MacGyver - A television series character who fights the forces of evil using his scientific and engineering knowledge to his advantage.
- Ian Malcolm - Mathematician who is the hero of the Jurassic Park book and movie (though it is hardly clear how his mathematical and scientific training helps)
- Dr. Juliet Parrish - A scientist who becomes the principal leader of the resistance against the genocidal alien Visitors in the V television franchise.
- Q (agent's codename) makes all the gadgets James Bond uses (Q is most often portrayed using the conventional literary trappings of a scientist (white lab coat etc), even though his activities are closer to engineering).
- Dr. Benton Quest, from the Jonny Quest cartoons.
- Hari Seldon, the mathematician who invents psychohistory in Isaac Asimov's Foundation Series.
- Mr. Spock - A Vulcan in the original Star Trek television series and movies; Spock serves as Science Officer and 1st Officer on the USS Enterprise where his vast scientific expertise and cooly logical demeanor prove invaluable in many of the ship's adventures.
- Doctor Who - A superintelligent alien who was educated as a scientist and uses his skills extensively in his adventures.
Collectively acknowledged heroes:
