This article describes a study funded by the Research on Gender in Science and Engineering (GSE) Program of the National Science Foundation (NSF). The study focused on gaining a better understanding of how middle school students perceive television depictions of scientists. This study involved collaboration between a major research university and local middle schools and is a good example of how education and social science research can take place in schools. The findings of this research also have implications for middle school science curricula and the ways in which science teachers engage middle school students in science.