Who would you consider Voyager's science officer?

[Captain Seafort]

Inspired by Mithrandir's comment in the discussion in DITL, who do you think best fits the title of Voyager's science officer? If you choose Seven, please also pick a second option, given that she only turned up at the start of season four.

[alexmann]

Wildman was the first one then seven took over

[Mithrandir]

I think it's similar to the command structure on Picards Enterprise: While VOY has a science department with several department heads (e.g. stellar cartography or whatever), junior officers (like Sam Wildman) and other staff, yet there is no "head" science officer in the senior staff. So the operations officer (Data, Kim) is responsible to coordinate the different scientific departments and thus "represents" the department on the bridge (when there isn't any need and/or production budget for a real specialist on the bridge) and in meetings.

On Voyager it changes of course with the arrival of our curvy Ex-Borg. From that point onwards every spacial phenomenon seems to be analyzed by Seven, occasionally assisted by Kim or under Janeways supervision.

By the way: Maybe Janeway - with her background as science officer - usually planned to head the science department personally and delegate administrative duties to her executive officer (the unsympathetic Lt. Cmdr. of the pilot episode). It's speculation of course...

[alexmann]

Was Cavit actually LC or was he C? And chakotay was always addressed as Commander and outranked Tuvok after his promotion but always wore the rank insignia of LC

[Mithrandir]

Was Cavit actually LC or was he C? And chakotay was always addressed as Commander and outranked Tuvok after his promotion but always wore the rank insignia of LC

Cavit was definetely LC:

And it is customary to address a Lieutenant Commander as "commander" - examples are Tuvok, Data...

[alexmann]

Good pic. What would have happened if Cavit had survived though?

[McAvoy]

Don't know. We don't know who he is really. Didn't like Paris that much.

The bigger question is how would the series be if Medical actually survived, the doctors, nurses etc. No EMH. But I will leave that up for another topic.

[alexmann]

I liked The Doctor!

[McAvoy]

...so did many people...

[alexmann]

Like You?????

[Mikey]

The whole reason we're having this poll is because there was no defined science officer among the standing bridge crew or senior staff. I think Tuvok acted most like a de facto science officer, even with Kim's presence (perhaps because of his regard for Harry's abilities.)

[Mithrandir]

The whole reason we're having this poll is because there was no defined science officer among the standing bridge crew or senior staff. I think Tuvok acted most like a de facto science officer, even with Kim's presence (perhaps because of his regard for Harry's abilities.)

I'll have to check the first seasons of Voyager but I can't remember Tuvok acting like a science officer. Maybe I missed something!

[alexmann]

The cloud comes to mind.

Kim: I've never seen anything like it
Tuvok: That is a comment we would prefer not to come from a senior officer on the bridge, it makes the junoior officers nervous
Janeway: What do you make of it Tuvok
Tuvok: I am unable to offer an identification Captain
Kim: In other words, youve never seen anything like it. Oh, I promise not to tell the junior officers.

[Mithrandir]

The cloud comes to mind.

Kim: I've never seen anything like it
Tuvok: That is a comment we would prefer not to come from a senior officer on the bridge, it makes the junoior officers nervous
Janeway: What do you make of it Tuvok
Tuvok: I am unable to offer an identification Captain
Kim: In other words, youve never seen anything like it. Oh, I promise not to tell the junior officers.

Well, that doesn't necessarily make Tuvok science officer. He was simply the most experienced crew member on board (age, service time) and - especially in the beginning of the series - Janeways most trusted advisor.

_{By the way: Alexmann, are you trying to make admiral within a week? 220 posts in 4 days...}

[alexmann]

I was replying to the bit about Tuvoks misregard for Kims abilities! It was supposed to be funny.

And no, Im not trying to get admiral in a week. Anyway even if I was there would be no way that I could get 4000 post in a week on this forum. Other ones with more active people to reply to maybe.