In contrast to the archetypical mad scientist, there are a lesser number of heroic scientists depicted in western culture who use their skills and knowledge for the betterment of others.
- Commander Data - An android in the television series, Star Trek: The Next Generation where his vast scientific knowledge is often critical for saving the day.
- Doctor Who - An superintelligent alien who was educated as a scientist and uses to his skills extensively in his adventures.
- MacGyver - A television series character who fights the forces of evil using his vast scientific knowledge to his advantage.
- Professor Roy Hinkley aka simply The Professor in the TV series Gilligan's Island where he is the respected de facto leader of the Castaways and usually represents the only real continual hope of rescue.
- Mr. Spock - In the original Star Trek, He is a Vulcan who serves as Science Officer and 1st Officer on the USS Enterprise where his vast scientific expertise and cooly logical and emotionally cool demeanor prove invaluable in many of the ship's adventures.
- Dr. Juliet Parrish - A scientist who becomes the principal leader of the resistance against the genocidal alien Visitors in the V television franchise.
- Professor Abraham Van Helsing, the nemesis of Dracula. In later incarnations, the professor has not fared so well, and, in some adaptations, is, in fact, a villain.
- Indiana Jones, heroic archaeologist.
- Dr. Benton Quest, from the Jonny Quest cartoons.
- Ian Malcolm - Mathematician who is the hero of the Jurassic Park book and movie (though it is hardly clear how his mathematical and scientific training helps)
- The scientists in The Andromeda Strain
- The principal characters of the television series CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, are forensic scientists who use their skills to solve crimes.
- There are a number of comic book superheroes who are scientists by profession. These include with DC Comics' the second Flash and Brainiac 5 of the Legion of Super-Heroes. Marvel Comics has Reed Richards aka Mister Fantastic, leader of the Fantastic Four, and Spider-Man, who studied advanced science and now teaches it.
- Martin Arrowsmith, hero of the eponymous novel by Sinclair Lewis.
- In the Ghostbusters film and television franchise, most of the central characters are parapsychologists who battle supernatural menaces with their expertise and equipment of own design.
- Q makes all the gadgets James Bond uses.
