Girl, It's Time To Automate

Real ad for epMotion: An automated pipetting system.

Yes folks, biotech is targeting women in science. Readers can, uh, form their own opinions of Eppendorf's approach...

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Apparently, it's an eppendorf pipette. If you aren't a science nerd, an eppendorf pipette is one of the ubiquitous tools of molecular biology — it's a calibrated gadget for dispensing minute quantities of liquids. Eppendorf is now selling an automated pipettor called epMotion … and judging by the…
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OMG! This is the best commercial ever. Check out this commercial for epMotion automated pippeting machines by Eppendorf. Who says that pipette commercials can't be funny...and strangely sexual. And like many drug commercials, the actual function of the product seems to be largely irrelevant.

I think that this is one of the funniest things I've seen in a long time. Clearly this is just a parody of a 90's Boy-Band - I don't think the intent is to specifically target women (though since women make up just over 50% of life scientists, that would be OK too).

In terms of selling equipment - it may work. Eppendorf is known for pipettes, but not for automation -this will surely increase the awareness of this product among scientists - some of who may be in the market for an automated pipette!

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As a veteran CLS in a hospital clinical laboratory that is perhaps 8:1 female top to bottom (including the vast majority of those making equipment purchasing decisions) yeah, perhaps the female 'target' is correct for my workplace. And many other clinical laboratories.

That said, I doubt that many will be swayed by the 'science' of this ad. Perhaps a 'meem' to make the connection in the future, as has already been suggested.

Cute, harmless fluff to my mind.

...tom...
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