Thread by @iamscicomm

[Day6: #ScienceComedy FAQs & hot-takes]

It’s my last day, friends! Let’s talk all things #SciComm Comedy today (standup, comedic storytelling, improv, sketch, humor writing, & more).

I’ll dig into using it for reframing “the expert” & empowering underheard perspectives in #STEM

CALLING ALL #SciComm #STEM #Research #Academia doing #Improv comedy, add yourself in this thread so we can find each other all over the 🌍

eg, some NYC #STEM improv tweeps (more are on insta & FB):
@kylemarian
@shodell
@LiftLaughPi
@noanaaman
@IndianOrMexican

ROLL CALL: #SciComm #STEM #Research #Academia doing #Sketch or #character comedy, add em in this thread so we can find each other all over the 🌍

Some NYC folks I ❤️ who do video sketches:
@shodell’s Your Brain on Blank
@RollieWilliams’s @InconvenientTS

#Science #STEM #StandUp ROLL CALL! Add your sets & spread each others’ #sciencecomedy around!

@ScienceShowoff
@UglyAnimal
@KashaPatel’s @DCScienceComedy
@AcademicStandUp
@ScienceRiotInc
@ShowoffTalentFa

Listen to #BrainAwarenessWeek #AcademicStandUp here
m.mixcloud.com/AcademicStandU…

@tiger3877 @catbartlett1 where are ya based & are you both doing improv w/ teams? Know some more individual #STEM improvisers, shows, teams?

In NYC, you can watch #ScienceImprov at @caveatnyc. #ScienceExclamationPoint brings short, 5min #STEM talks to some seasoned improv comedians (@thankyourobot). The show was @BenLillie’s brain baby.

The next one is TONIGHT!
caveat.nyc/event/science-…

Next up: #Science #SciComm #Satire & #Humor is a completely different artform & skill. But to understand, you gotta consume.

If you know some great #STEM-inspired humor/satire outlets, share it here!

io9.gizmodo.com/the-funniest-s…

FAQ: Who got me into #sciencecomedy?

It‘s my cathartic #SciComm outlet for pain & frustration at toxicity, ego, & politics I experienced + saw in #academia. The kind of thing that struck me as a serious hindrance to progressing #science.

It was my outlet to shift power dynamics

FAQ: Who influenced my #sciencecomedy?

I watch a lot of comedy & living The Edinburgh Fringe changed me into appreciating so many styles.

Also 💯@IsaRossellini’s IFC series #SeduceMe, #Mammas, & @GreenPornoBook

Watch her talk @ColumbiaPSYC #TheLivingLAB

FAQs: I’m not funny. Can I do #sciencecomedy?

LIES. We all have a sense of humor. Translating your inner funny thoughts into outer funny thoughts is DOABLE.

Not everyone who tries it becomes a #comedian. Comedians work hard to hone their craft. But you can def learn the skills.

Your turn!

What/who got you into watching/consuming, trying, doing #sciencecomedy?

Share your clips!

My hot-takes from practicing #sciencecomedy:

- not every1 cares & connects w/ your #science hero narrative

- Ya GOTTA get over your ego & sense of “Academic Expert” to connect w/ your audience. Comedy is about celebrating human faults.

- you being right is NOT the funny thing

My final advice on #scicomm #sciencecomedy for & w/ underheard, underappreciated communities:

- #comedy is “the common man’s artform” for a reason

- we can laugh to keep from crying, but we can also laugh to critique the logic behind the status quo

#inclusiveSciComm #Science

My final #SciComm hot-take:

Your Science Hero/Science Savior-only narrative can hurt the minorities you’re trying to entice into #STEM.

Inspire but don’t forget to prepare anyone who doesn’t benefit from a white/cis/ablist/patriarchy-dominant culture of #Science

“Students who are told that things are fair implode pretty quickly in middle school as self-doubt hits them,” he said, “and they begin to blame themselves for problems they can’t control.”

Journal of Child Development: onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/cd…

Read more: theatlantic.com/education/arch…