Isn't "mad science" actually "mad engineering"? Can you find me an example of "mad science" in popular media?

I think you’re looking in the wrong place… mad science is… every time plastic surgery is performed… every time a commentator uses fiery retoric to incite people… whenever religious NUTS use a god to sway the masses who live empty lives to begin with…
or a movie reviewer tells us a movie is shit…
Oh surely… you can evoke Pavlovian responses from people, are you looking for hard science?

It would be misleading to define science as what is accomplished by the application of the scientific method, which I think is gobbly-gook. Those of us who have worked in labs can testify to that idea. Most science isn’t actually done that way. The true definition of what science is defined as is a hotly debated subject, and for a large part those in the field don’t care about following the text-book process.

The line between engineering and science is fine to non-existent.

Romanticized mad science in media (Frankenstein comes to mind) is, actually, a pretty accurate dramatization of what actually happens (if you’re looking for real examples of mad science). Someone with a mighty brain comes along, sets about on the possibility of something, and then tries to achieve it. Whether you define their endeavors as mad or not is up to the interpreter.

I could consider a lot of research being done with stem cells as mad science, because of the socially volatile nature of the base material, its implications, and the danger involved with actually pursuing research in the field. The scientists who are trying to print working organs are considered mad by many. I can tell you that you wont find a concise text-book style scientific process outlined for their project.

Those who established the nuclear revolution were surely mad scientists.

Be careful about what you view “real science” as.