Beyond the Punch Line

If you drew a Venn Diagram featuring the two sets “science” and “comedy,” you might not expect to find much at their intersection.  But Brian Malow draws on two decades as a stand up comedian to help scientists communicate better with general audiences.  

Brian will share some suggestions and simple tools for incorporating humor into public talks - including quotations, humorous slides, and analogies - with a focus on helping scientists become relaxed and comfortable enough on stage to allow their personalities to shine through. 

In addition to his career as a standup comic, Brian has produced science videos for Time Magazine’s website and audio essays for Neil deGrasse Tyson’s radio show. He was a blogger for Scientific American, and he currently works in science communications at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences.