Funny Brains: Science Communication via Comedy
Dr. John Butler had the privilege of co-organizing a Science Communication training event with Michele Marin and Rebecca Eilis at the Federation for European Neuroscience Societies (FENS) Forum, the largest neuroscience conference in Europe, attracting 8,000 attendees.
The focus of the event was on using comedy to communicate neuroscience.
The event spanned two days. On the first day, John, Michele, and Rebecca conducted a one-and-a-half-hour fully booked workshop with around 50 participants. They shared their experiences in comedy science communication and discussed the benefits of using humour to convey scientific concepts. The participants were encouraged to think about how their own research could be presented in a funny or absurd way. They then brainstormed their own comedy routines in small groups, with the organizers providing guidance and feedback. The workshop was a great success, and many participants expressed interest in presenting their material the following day.
On the second day, 14 participants, forming 10 acts, made their comedy neuroscience debuts. After a brief rehearsal, where minimal feedback was given due to the impressive quality of the overnight work, the participants performed their three-minute sets in front of an audience. The routines covered a wide range of topics, from child development to single-cell research to mouse experiments, and even the absurdity of poster presentations. Various comedy styles were employed, including classic stand-up, a two-person act, and a comedy troupe performance. Each act received enthusiastic applause from an audience of over 250 people.
This was John's first experience teaching a comedy science communication workshop, and it went perfectly, thanks to the amazing co-organizers Rebecca and Michele and the support from the FENS communication committee and team. You can hear more about the event on the FENS Forum 2024 - Day 4 Highlights podcast: https://youtu.be/v3ARrI2jW8s?si=iP50nG8hFLg1UPtP.