When you think white coats and padded walls, think science

After mentioning to a bank teller that I do scientific research, I was greeted by the familiar reply:
“Oh, so you’re one of those really smart people who wears a lab coat and goggles?”

At present, my work is largely done at a computer, so I’m never sure quite what to make of such comments. For those occasions when time constraints don’t allow me to respond constructively, my first thought was to make one of these. (if you’re going to be trapped in the stereotype of lab coats, then at least have fun doing it)

…But the truth is that all those LEDs would make it very uncomfortable to wear while sitting down. For those of us whose work takes us away from the bench, I propose following the lead of one theorist I recently met: tie dye lab coats!!! The ones linked appear to be of the style favored by chemists (buttons and loose sleeves) rather than biologists (snaps and elastic cuffs), but the basic idea is the same.