Previously known as the “I attended ScienceOnline and all I got was this stinking badge” badge…. (BZ, AZ, KT)

Yet another one of our more self explanatory badges. (CLW)

In which recipient makes lasers. Kind of simple but awesome.

In which, recipients have designed and constructed entirely new and novel scientific equipment. A scientific apparatus that makes more scientific apparatus also counts. (TML)

In which users have designed and constructed their own scientific equipment. Laughing maniacally throughout this process is optional. (TML)

In which, users have tweaked or hacked existing science equipment for improved or novel uses. Examples involving scotch tape and paper clips also count. (TML)

That’s right. You’ve got Buzz Aldrin’s back… (PW)

In which the wearer is a latter day Linneaus.

In which this badge is pretty much akin to science royalty (MG).

In which we come to terms that good science can also be done by the general public. (NHM)

In which the recipient has experience extreme weather hazards, all in the attempt to get data for science.

Link to the supplemental figure and approximate time involved would be greatly appreciated.

With the assumption that there is a good sound reason for this (and that this doesn’t include those found in living bodies). (GGP)

Snakes, scorpions, other anthropods, various spiders, insects, etc. All good. Near death stories are a bonus. (JKS)

Suitable for fiction writers and climatologists alike. (MA)

It goes without saying that a link to a picture is required for this badge. (SH)

Basically for those forced to learn a new language in their pursuit of science. (M)

Crossing the art-science divide. Examples pretty please…

Also referred to as the “patent” badge. (M)

For example – the Large Hadron Collider?

Enjoying this experience is not a prerequisite. (GS)

Kind of like our level 6 computer programming badge (obviously computer folk are fond of their badges). (GS)

Kind of like our level 5 computer programming badge. (GS)

Kind of like out level 4 computer programming badge. (GS)

Kind of like our level 3 computer programming badge. (GS)

Kind of like our level 2 computer programming badge. (GS)

Kind of like our level 1 computer programming badge. (GS)

Because Science Scouts are not above gratuitous product placements either.

Science in less than 140 characters is beautiful too (DN).

In which the recipient plays a significant science performance role on radio. Bonus marks if recipient is wearing their lab coat during the broadcast. (SN)

Want to argue about the merits of this topic? To quote a great movie: “Bring it on!” (RD)

And not afraid to make fun of those who don’t (RD).

A badge for those who, over a career acting as principal investigator, have secured total research funding awards in excess of $10,000,000 (SN).

A badge for those who, over a career acting as principal investigator, have secured total research funding awards in excess of $1,000,000 (SN).

A badge for those who, over a career acting as principal investigator, have secured total research funding awards in excess of $100,000 (SN).

Sort of self explanatory – should be a good story or two here… (DL).

In which recipients have honed their palate to distinguish fossil from bone, since licking rocks purely for fun is kind of weird (B).

In which your science, due to Lab work or fieldwork, dictates at least a full month away from your bed (KS).

In which your science, due to Lab work or fieldwork, dictates at least a full week away from your bed (KS).

In which your science, due to lab work or fieldwork, requires an overnight vigil (KS).

A more common sentiment than you would think (JW).

Whereby the image on this badge in no way condones any particular type of activity.

In which the recipient’s passion for science has led to their significant other leaving (PTP).

Whereby the recipient has actually been in space (AP).

Whereby the recipient has used a spacecraft simulator (AP).

Pictures required to obtain this badge (J).

Where the recipient can no longer explain what they do to other scientists in their own field (M).

Where the recipient can no longer explain what they do to other scientists generally (M).

Where the recipient can no longer explain what they do to their parents (M).

Out of the millions of children who aspire to work with dinosaurs, this recipient is actually someone who does precisely that.

Out of the millions of children who aspire to work with dolphins and their ilk, this recipient is actually someone who does precisely that.

Drinks rum. Into pillaging and stuff. Soft spot for evolutionary biology. (J)

More exotic than the usual laboratory bench. (R)

In which, technically technically, the recipient is not in the business of world domination (as dictated by membership rules), but has built a robot that is. (R)

In which recipients have built a fully autonomous robot. (R)

In which recipients have built a semi-autonomous robot. (R)

Ah, the joys of field work… (SW)

Photographs accompanying this badge should be worth at least a free drink or two.

Recipients have prepared their object of study as a cuisine item for eating. Hopefully, the minority of MD’s are ineligible for this one. (J)

For members who can utter the phrase “It’s not rocket science” with authority. (DG)

This can apply to both achieving moments of intellectual clarity or actual performance of an experiment whilst under the influence. It presumes talking about science under the influence a given. (JD)

Clearly, different from the “with feces” and deserving of a badge.

In which the recipient has worked with feces. (H)

In which the recipient has worked with acids. (L)

In which the recipient actually tries to avoid burning stuff and is doing research on alternative fuels.

In which the recipient has set fire to his or herself while performing experiments in the name of science. Cooking or drinking accidents do not qualify one for this badge. (JM)

In which the recipient has set fire to stuff, while fully aware of all thermodynamic principles at play. (AB)

In which the recipient has set fire to stuff, while fully aware of all combustion principles at play. (AB)

In which the recipient has set fire to stuff, all in the name of general scientific curiosity. (AB)

In which recipient conducts hazardous research on very large creatures. (MH)

In which recipient conducts hazardous research on very small creatures.

In which the recipient is the leading expert in a fieldthat few others share an interest in. (MH)

For those who study medical and/or microbiological issues related to things carried rectally. (LL)

We figured that if you actually know what those three words together mean, then you deserve a badge (Yes, we know it’s a normal distribution). Statistics rock! (NG)

In which friends agree that the recipient spends so much time on a telescope, that he/she even kind of looks like a telescope.

In which the recipient has had time on a space telescope to view celestial objects. (SS)

In which the recipient has had time on a professional telescope to view celestial objects. (SS)

In which the recipient has used a telescope to view celestial objects. (SS)

Also known as the transdiscplinary, interdiscplinary, multidisciplinary, or intradisciplinary badge. (D)

In which the recipient has had to pay a visit to the hospital as a result of scientific work. (MF)

Might be best to keep an eye on such recipients. (JM)

In which the recipient has had experience with the electrical shocking of himself/herself. (JL)

In which the recipient has had experience with the electrical shocking of a human. (SH)

In which the recipient has had experience with the electrical shocking of an organism. (SH)

In which the recipient has cloned something or other. Rules to a drinking game concerning this badge will be forthcoming. (RPM)

We’re not sure if this is a specialist badge. We do hope so, though. (PZM)

Presumably a badge with a consensus even stronger than that seen in the global warming arena.

That’s two species not including humans. (PZM)

In which the recipient knows what a tadpole is. Basically, an easy way to get a badge that looks a little like the semen one above.

There are probably more who are deserving of this badge than you would expect. (BZ)

Medicine works, people. (SB)

In which the recipient professes an arguably unhealthy affinity for things of this category.

Seriously, scary stuff.

Needless to say, this is one of our specialist badges. (JL)

In which the recipient has research published at Nature or Science.

In which the recipient has works in print at publications with circulations of 50,000 or higher.

One of our self explanatory badges. (EM)

It could get ugly when two or more of these recipients get together.

…Although not for lack of trying… (JH)

In which the recipient has frozen something in liquid nitrogen for the sake of scientific curiosity. (JL)

In which the recipient has frozen something in dry ice for the sake of scientific curiosity. (JL)

In which the recipient has frozen something in the freezer for the sake of scientific curiosity. (JL)

(And we mean “ass” in the most holistic of ways). In which the recipient stands up to such miscreants in the work place. Places of science should know better. (SF)

In which the recipient is “hopefully” doing something that is somehow related to human health. (JH)

In which the recipient is now probably having a lot more fun than he/she did before. (JS)

In which the recipient can be so passionate about things of a scientific nature, that he/she may appear surly, rude, and/or unpleasant.

Not necessarily a good thing. (JN)

In which the recipient has had experience with things such as selective breeding, crossing, mate selection, prokaryotic conjugation, fertility studies, STD related microbiology, and/or any other acceptable interpretation of the badge. (RPM)

A special badge for the many children who are alarmingly smart about things of a scientific nature. Smarter than you and I even. (JS)

In which the recipient has released music where a science concept has been broached. (JH)

Lethal when in combination with the “destroyer of quackery” badge. (AC)

In which the recipient never ever backs down from an argument that pits sound science over quackery.

In which the recipient has “borrowed” scientific supplies for the sake of stealth scientific communication. (JG)

Recipients have demonstrated proficiency around open flames in laboratory settings.

Because you can’t have a bunch of badges without an arts and crafts badge. This one assumes the recipient has all manner of “craftiness” with a sciencegeek twist. (AC)

In which the recipient maintains a blog where at least a quarter of the material is about science. Suffice to say, this does not include scientology.

In which the recipient doesn’t have a problem accepting aforementioned free drinks.

In which the recipient has published a science piece at the venerable New Yorker. Pretty much means the recipient has to pay for drinks in subsequent meetings.

In which the recipient plays a significant science performance role in TV. This badge is nullified if recipient is always shown wearing a lab coat. (JG)

In which the recipient has demonstrated that his/her science communciation prowess was handy in simplifying a potentially challenging scenario. For example, was able to escape from unjustified prison term, with the clever use of a paper clip and WD-40. You know, that kind of thing. (Note that display of badge must be accompanied by explanation). (JN)

Required for all members. Assumes the recipient conducts himself/herself in such a manner as to talk science whenever he/she gets the chance. Not easily fazed by looks of disinterest from friends or the act of “zoning out” by well intentioned loved ones. (DN)

For the propagation of an ideal where science communicators can meet firstly, for drinks; secondly, for communicating; and ultimately, for networking. Joining is easy – just embrace the cause, play the twitter game, sign up at the Facebook site, and pay respect to the following: