to make the gang's career dramas a lot funnier.
However, despite this assumption, there's actually authenticity running through many of the scenes related to the university. Sure, it got a few things wrong about this kind of educational institution but it also got a lot more right. From the relationships to the financial aspects, there's a wide range of topics that The Big Bang Theory touched upon were genuinely real.
The Wages
It's difficult to know who has the best paid job, but one thing that seems relatively accurate is the wages that the group are on in their jobs. The show seems to start with Leonard, Raj, Howard and Sheldon in comfortable financial situations.
While not rich, they make a healthy living and can themselves. As the show goes on any mention of financial woes completely disappear, suggesting their continued work has resulted in larger pay checks. This would also be accurate with the group working their way to the top.
Funding
For a time, Leonard was actually in charge of deciding who in the university actually deserved to get funding for their project. At another point, the whole group were battling it out to try and get their projects more financial backing. This economic aspect of the university was quite accurate.
Financial is few and far between, so the plots focusing on these bids to get funding was actually a realistic narrative to portray. One of the best decisions that Howard and the group ever took, for instance, was to get military backing and funding for one of their own projects.
Personal Rivalries
Every workplace has rivalries and co-workers who dislike being around one another. In The Big Bang Theory, there's a few different rivalries that take centre stage, including between the main group themselves, who bicker over the importance of their jobs.
Perhaps the most memorable rivalry is between Sheldon and Barry Kripke. The two might not like each other on a personal level, but considering they are often vying for the same promotions, funding and covering similar topic areas, their career rivalry is more fierce.
Academic Progression
As the show continues to move forward, there is a clear sense of academic progression through the group. While monetary factors and the economics of the university play into this, it's also clear in the position they hold within the university.
The majority of the group rise up in some way. Whether it's Howard's trip to space bringing him acclaim, Leonard and Sheldon's papers drawing in praise, or perhaps of the group looking to gain tenure or further promotions, there's an evolution in the characters authentically displayed through the university.
t Projects
There's a number of sub-plots which see of the group actually working alongside one another on intriguing scientific projects. Amy is brought in to work alongside Howard on various projects for instance and is later the key to her and Sheldon's Nobel Prize win.
Bert Kibbler holds a similar role on a number of occasions, even helping Raj identify some intriguing space debris. These partnerships would naturally occur as each person looks for the best in their respective fields to drive the university's research forward.
Publishing Papers
One of the biggest aspects of being a part of the staff at a university is to represent the faculty and the research taking place there. Publishing papers is a huge part of that, with each of the characters in the show publishing their work at some stage.
This often links back in to funding, acclaim, and promotions, but the most important aspect to getting a university right is to demonstrate that they are doing legitimate work and The Big Bang Theory often made narratives around the fact that they were creating new papers to publish.
Media Days
Sometimes academics and staff get media days where they have to the university, talk about their work, or perhaps act as an expert on a particular topic for the benefit of a TV or radio show. The series continued to show the group taking part in this aspect of the job.
Of course, Sheldon famously performed terribly on a number of occasions when put in this kind of spot. However, Leonard and Raj both had their own fair share of catastrophes as well. Indeed, the university did seem to trust them less and less with the responsibility.
Work/Life Balance
Something that a lot of educators and those who work within the system can attest to is that finding a work and life balance can be difficult. This isn't a job that can be left behind, with the gang often working on their projects at home.
Sometimes they are working late into the night on equations and formulas, often having breakthroughs at the most random of times, which they must immediately check out to see if they are correct. This kind of job means that relationships can sometimes suffer, unless the partner is like-minded.
The Location
The location itself was often very believable. The set for the university was clearly based upon real locations and felt like a living and breathing facility. From the students to those who made up the staff, each aspect felt very real.
The labs had the right kinds of equipment, the layout made complete sense, and even the canteen was totally believable and could have been plucked from any educational building. This is strangely one of the most important things the show had to get right.
The Friendships
There's a number of bromances in the show, but originally a lot of these friendships were created at work. A place like a university means that the staff are constantly around one another. Friendships are usually formed out of a mutual respect.
That is the case here on The Big Bang Theory. Outside of the main group, other secondary characters are brought in, in the same way to showcase a living and breathing faculty. It's a clever thing to achieve in of making the university an important part of the ongoing narrative.