As automation and machine learning overtake more and more jobs, the fear is that there just won't be enough new jobs to absorb all the workers that are displaced. And don't for a minute believe that doctors, programmers, and other highly skilled jobs are forever safe.

What happens when the elites decide that the masses are too much of a liability and not enough of an asset?

I completely agree that children will choose their own role models or choose how they are inspired by others. I never said otherwise.

How do they find role models - either real or fictional? Often is it through the media: movies, television, magazines, newspapers, radio, whatever. Making a major scientific announcement will get you media attention (whether you want it or not) and make you a potential role model (again whether you want it or not). The child will choose.

With regard to Obokata-san, she became a media darling for some weeks. Of all the children who saw that, I cannot believe that none drew any inspiration from her. That none said: "Wow, I want to be like her". And when they see that same media turn on their new-found idol with equal zeal, tear her apart and ultimately wear her down, what then? Undoubtedly, some children were left discouraged, perhaps now seeing science in a negative light. That is unfortunate. So, to answer your second question, her success is relevant.

As for gender, if you believe it has no influence when choosing a role model, kindly reconsider. Beginning early on, children are very perceptive to even subtle social cues and that certainly includes gender. People also gravitate towards "like" things and that includes gender. They may find it easier to imagine themselves as that role model because they "look like me". From time to time, do we not see articles on Slashdot and elsewhere about attempts to encourage girls to consider STEM-related careers? To that extent, a female role model can be a great asset. So, to answer your first question, her gender is relevant.

You seem to have already convicted Obokata-san. There certainly seem to be irregularities in the papers and some stupidly naive mistakes (plagiarism?), but as yet I have not seen absolutely conclusive evidence that the paper's assertions are invalid. I choose to believe Obokata-san is innocent until proven guilty. While fraud is certainly a possibility, don't forget that hatred, jealousy, and professional assassination are not unknown in the realm of research and academia. Egos and money are involved after all.

Give her the chance to prove her and her team's assertions. It is the best choice for science.

Since others have tried and failed to duplicate the results specified in the paper, it seems that the only way to really resolve this is to have Obokata-san duplicate her experiment. The process should be closely monitored so that there is no question about fabricated data and no chance the process is sabotaged by someone else.

Part of me is still holding out hope that there is some truth to the paper's overall result - if only because here was someone who could have been a great inspiration for kids (particularly girls) to get into science and also because I hate to believe people are so stupid as to fabricate something this important and think it won't be uncovered. Yeah, my naivete is showing.