why are scientists always the ones building & reverse-engineering technology?

[McAvoy]

I'd rather say that dr Lee seems to be incapable of anything. I remember him doing nothing more than create a mess.

Later on, yes. Earlier he was fairly good at things. I believe the first episode he appeared in, he correctly deduced that the device Maybourne used to transport himself and Jack to the 'utopia'. He even stood up very well to Carter.

[garhkal]

True.. in the latter seasons Dr lee was shown more as a bumbling fool to imo make carter more impressive.

[gooberlious]

He helped build Midway Station!

which wrath boared

[Pytheas]

I'd rather say that dr Lee seems to be incapable of anything. I remember him doing nothing more than create a mess.

I think you have to forgive a lot of the mistakes made by the scientists/engineers! In order to get a job like that, they have to be pretty good at what they do, but don't forget what they're essentially doing is meddling with alien technology, plantation and so on. Developing Earth technology is for the most part building on existing principles, but I imagine reverse engineering alien tech has got to be a pretty daunting task. There's bound to be errors.

(I know it doesn't really fit to the post, but I've wanted to use this smiley since I saw it five minutes ago.)

[Scion]

All of the 'scientists' on the show are apparently multidisciplinary. Even Daniel Jackson's range of knowledge is absurdly broad by real world academic standards. McKay is an engineer, and Carter and Lee probably are as well. Presumably there are gobs of off-stage engineers that worked on the F-302 and Prometheus projects though.

[maneth]

Daniel Jackson is a modern renaissance man. Most people in the academic world specialize in one or two subjects, so you'll occasionally get someone with two Ph.D. degrees, although that's quite rare. Some people with the funds for it do rack up lots of Master's degrees, though. I think the confirmed record is 19.