Mayim Bialik Of ‘The Big Bang Theory’ Says Scientists Can Be Creative, Too

Mayim Bialik has one of the more impressive resumes of the Big Bang Theory stars. She starred in her own sitcom, Blossom, as a teenager, and earned a Ph.D. in neuroscience before her return to acting. Bialik recently told The Hollywood Reporter there is no disconnect between her creative and scientific careers. Most people, she says, have many talents.

“I think all people can have more than one interest. Just because someone is a scientist doesn’t mean they’re [not] creative. Just because someone works in the creative world doesn’t mean that they’re not also interested or skilled at science.”

Bialik is an advocate for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) learning and believes in encouraging women, who are often underrepresented, to pursue those fields. Her recent partnership with Texas Instruments is one example of her commitment to STEM education.

“I think that there’s a need for a very strong emphasis on STEM subjects here. It’s kind of an undercapped and underdeveloped resource that we have. In particular, the representation of women is historically lower in these fields, so I’m happy to put a positive face on STEM and a female face on [it].”

Although Bialik has taught science in the past, she now wouldn’t have the time to do so because The Big Bang Theory is a full-time job. Perhaps surprisingly, she told Yahoo TV it is her involvement with Big Bang that might preclude the possibility of a Blossom reunion in the future. Bialik denies she’s been approached about it, although she and her former castmates stay in touch.

“Now that I live in the Chuck Lorre universe, I am appropriately contracted to the Chuck Lorre universe, so I think it might be legally more interesting than people would imagine.”

She told Yahoo she wasn’t able to keep any of Blossom’s distinctive clothing — even the undergarments — although she did nab a shirt worn by David Lascher, who played her boyfriend Vinnie.

In addition to starting work on Season 9 of The Big Bang Theory, Bialik has recently launched a new website, GrokNation. She told The Hollywood Reporter she’s excited for the new project and the interaction it involves.

“This website’s kind of the first thing that feels like it’s totally me and we’re hoping to really build a community of people who are interested in learning about new things.”

Viewers of The Big Bang Theory will see what happens with Bialik’s character, Amy Farrah Fowler, and Sheldon Cooper after the cliffhanger Season 8 finale when new episodes return Monday, September 21, on CBS.

[Photo by Ethan Miller / Getty Images Entertainment]