University of Oklahoma chemistry professor Donna Nelson helps cook up
big batches of methamphetamine. Not in real life, mind you, but as the
science adviser for the Emmy-winning television series “Breaking Bad.”
In the AMC show, which has its third season premiere March 21,
Bryan Cranston portrays Walter White, organic chemistry teacher by day,
meth manufacturer by night … but only because he’s dying of cancer and
wants to leave behind a nest egg for his family. “Breaking Bad” staff
writers call upon Nelson to ensure their series’ science is solid.
“It was a little bit of a difficult decision at first, because of
the content. You realize this is about illicit drug manufacturing and
illegal activity, which those of us who work at the university are
against. We absolutely abhor it,” says Nelson. “But when I watched it,
I thought, ‘This does not glorify the drug life.’”
She earned the gig after reading an interview with the show’s creator
and executive producer, Vince Gilligan (“The X-Files,” “Hancock”), in
the American Chemical Society’s membership magazine.
In it, he revealed he had no training in chemistry, and was relying on
the word of DEA agents and Wikipedia articles to achieve some semblance
of scientific accuracy. Gilligan welcomed feedback from the “chemically
inclined,” so Nelson volunteered her services.
“For decades, we’ve been bemoaning the fact that students aren’t going
into chemistry and science in general,” she says, “and we’ve been
saying, ‘What we need is a prime-time television show about science!’
And suddenly, here it came.”
Even among the journal’s thousands of readers, the response to Gilligan’s distress signal wasn’t exactly overwhelming.
“Turned out,” Nelson says, “I was the only person that said, ‘Yes, I’ll
be willing to help, for the sake of science and inspiring students.’”
While in California on unrelated matters, she and her son, a recent
chemical engineering grad, dropped by the “Breaking Bad” offices on
invitation. She expected to do no more than speak to Gilligan’s
assistant; instead, they spent the entire day fielding questions from
Gilligan and his writers – before, during and after lunch.
She regularly receives e-mails and phone calls from them requiring her
chemical expertise, from formulas to be drawn on Walt’s blackboard to
the correct ingredients to synthesize various narcotics.
“I’ve never synthesized drugs,” Nelson says. “I had to go look those things up.”
Whatever the assignment, Gilligan is pleased to have her help.
“Professor Nelson’s love for science and passion for making chemistry
accessible to a larger audience is really inspiring, and she’s been
invaluable to our show,” Gilligan said. “We really try to keep the
science on ‘Breaking Bad’ as accurate as possible. Professor Nelson has
been a big part of that, from helping us with diagrams in Walt’s
classroom to suggesting the ingredients for a battery made entirely
from the parts of an RV. No matter what the problem, she always tackles
it with enthusiasm and humor.”
With a sabbatical from OU on the horizon, Nelson will be making an
official set visit soon. She receives no screen credit for her
contributions, nor pay — and she’s perfectly fine with that.
“It’s
a small part, but I do take pride in knowing that I helped them with
the realism, to help change the perception of scientists,” she says.
“I’m paid by tax dollars, so I view this really seriously. I think it’s
our obligation to do things like that. If we’re going to complain
about the attitudes people have about scientists – some regard us as
evil – each of us needs to do what we can to reverse that. We’re
supposed to do service.”
Plus, she says, the TV work is “really fun.”
“I like to make science more unusual and interesting, and make students
realize that science touches our lives every day,” Nelson says. “It’s
relevant – what you wear, what you eat, what you drive, everything. And
chemistry is right there in the middle of it.”
top photo by Mark Hancock |
bottom photo provided/AMC