Funny you should say that

“In a conference room, a well-timed joke can draw a few smiles, ease the atmosphere and help people remember complex concepts. Yet humour is still far from the norm at scientific conferences, where rigour and seriousness are seen as the only real markers of credibility. Conferences on science, technology, engineering and mathematics have a reputation for being dry, with dense jargon, overloaded slides and monotone speeches. Contrary to popular belief, humour has its place in a scientific talk, even when time is limited. But it’s usually the last thing on anyone’s mind, particularly for researchers who are uncomfortable on stage, especially in a room full of colleagues. For Emily Standen, a biologist specializing in evolutionary and comparative biomechanics at the University of Ottawa, presenting her research didn’t come naturally. Like many young researchers, she initially struggled with the anxiety of public speaking. After years of practice, her passion for improv theatre has found its way into her scientific presentations. She reserves technical jargon for written papers, favouring plain language for live presentations and weaving stories into her talks to keep the audience guessing. Improv has also taught her to trust her instincts, ad-libbing the occasional self-deprecating joke, but only when it feels right. According to Marie-Eve Carignan, a communications professor at Université de Sherbrooke, humour is a social bonding force that captures the collective imagination of an audience. Much like clear explanations, strong visuals and storytelling, humour acts as a mnemonic glue, helping new concepts stick. A little levity, she insists, doesn’t undermine the rigour of the research — and it’s far better received by the academic community than one might think. So, what does the research actually say? Several studies have examined the impact of humour in scientific presentations. After analyzing 870 jokes told at 14 biology conferences, researcher Stefano Mammola concluded that, if you’re going to use humour in a presentation, it’s best to introduce it early on; that way, the audience knows what to expect. Opening with humour sets a warm tone. Used mid-talk or after a heavier section, it draws the audience back in. At the end, a well-placed joke can take the edge off a sobering conclusion. As for audience reactions, the stakes are low: no one will throw tomatoes if a joke falls flat, or burst out laughing if it lands. According to the same study, two thirds of the time, the most you’ll get is a faint smile. Use it, but use it wisely Dr. Carignan encourages researchers to ditch convention and go for the joke. Humour can make the presenter more relatable, but only if it doesn’t feel forced. After all, scientific conferences often draw diverse audiences from different disciplines, cultures and backgrounds. Take Emilie Ollame-Omvane, a PhD student in microbiology and immunology at Université de Montréal. As a native French speaker, navigating a scientific world where English dominates is hard enough. She steers clear of jokes for fear of offending certain cultural sensibilities, although she acknowledges that a touch of humour can breathe life into a formal presentation. Let’s not forget that the people in the room are researchers and academics, too: they’ve come to learn, not to be entertained. Humour is very much optional, notes Julie Dirwimmer, who trains people in humour and science communication. To avoid killing the mood or undermining your credibility, she advises steering clear of mockery, overly niche cultural references, and hamming it up for its own sake. Dr. Carignan agrees, adding that “it’s always worth asking yourself whether a joke will actually land.” She’s a big fan of sarcasm, but only with familiar audiences who won’t take her biting sense of humour the wrong way. She also recommends thinking about how the talk, or clips of it, might play online. A humorous aside can read very differently out of context. The bottom line, say the experts, is that you don’t have to use humour in your scientific presentations. But done well, it may just make your message more memorable. The post Funny you should say that appeared first on University Affairs .

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