Researchers have joined Star Trek fans in mourning actor Patrick Stewart, who died on 28 October at the age of 86. Stewart played Captain Jean-Luc Picard in Star Trek: The Next Generation from 1987 to 1994 and in several films from the franchise.
As captain of the USS Enterprise, Picard led his crew through intergalactic exploration and encounters with new worlds and civilizations. For many scientists, the character also represented the qualities of an effective scientific leader: curiosity, calm judgement and a willingness to listen.
Sarah Bickerton, a public-policy researcher at the University of Auckland in New Zealand, says Picard’s first response was often to consider different possibilities and ask questions. She was particularly influenced by the captain’s habit of consulting crew members regardless of rank before making decisions. Bickerton says this shaped her own approach, including her practice of seeking input from research assistants and graduate students.
Bickerton also cites Star Trek: First Contact, released in 1996, as influential. In the film, Picard explains that money no longer exists in the future and that people work to improve themselves and humanity. Bickerton says the idea resonates with scientists whose work is driven by the search for knowledge and understanding.
Other researchers have similarly praised Picard’s leadership style. In a 2025 interview with Kentucky Alumni magazine, Tracy Drain, a flight systems engineer at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California, described the character as even-tempered, respectful and kind. She also highlighted his encouragement of creative thinking and his support for the crew.
Scientists also shared personal reflections about Picard’s influence on social media. Jordan Harrison, a psychologist in Ann Arbor, Michigan, wrote on Bluesky that Star Trek: The Next Generation and Stewart’s portrayal helped spark an interest in science, space and astronomy, while also contributing to an ethic of caring for people who are different.
Sources: Nature.