Do you know any scientists?

Now this is sad…

Only 18 percent of us know a scientist personally, according to a 2005 survey (subscription required), and when asked in 2007 to name scientific "role models," the results were dismal. Forty-four percent of Americans couldn't come up with a name at all, and among those few who did, their top answers were either not scientists or not alive: Bill Gates, Al Gore, Albert Einstein.

[from Slate]

I work in Building 99, the main offices for Microsoft Research, which is packed with scientists (one reason I like it here).  But it’s too bad that the rest of America has so little face-to-face interaction with practicing scientists.

It’s also a shame, because scientists in my opinion tend to be very interesting people.  Maybe somebody should set up a social networking system to let more people meet scientists.  How about you?  Do you know any scientists?