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What scientists can learn from performers (and a stand-up comic)
Dear students,
When conference season approaches, many of us are polishing our slides, rehearsing our timing, and preparing to step onto a stage.
And let’s be honest, we have all experienced this.
The final talk of the day. The lights are low. The audience is tired. Phones slowly appear. Someone checks the time. The speaker apologizes for standing between everyone and the networking drinks.
Now imagine the same setting at a concert. Lights low. Final act of the day. The performer steps on stage. The room comes alive.
What makes the difference?
In a recent Nature Careers column, John Tregoning explores how scientists can learn from comedians, musicians and actors to better engage audiences. His message is simple: scientific talks are performances. And perhaps the most convincing ilustration comes from a scientist who stepped into the world of stand-up comedy.
Science is not just information. It Is performance.
Tregoning argues that talks often fall flat not because the science is weak, but because delivery is. Conference presentations do more than sharing data. They:
From stage paralysis to stand-up comedy
Avraneel Paul describes a moment many researchers know well: standing in front of an audience, frozen, unable to find the next words. Instead of retreating, he did something radical. He signed up for an open mic night at a stand-up comedy club. Not because he wanted to become a comedian, but because he admired their confidence and stage control.
From that experience, he learned three things that align remarkably well with Tregoning’s advice:
Tell the story, not just the data
One of the most powerful shifts Paul describes is this: he stopped “merely presenting results” and began viewing his research through a storyteller’s lens. Tregoning makes a similar point when comparing talks to a band’s set list. You cannot play ten data-heavy slides in a row and expect sustained engagement. You need variation, pacing, tension, and resolution.
People remember narratives. They rarely remember slide 27.
Timing, presence, and dialogue
Another shared lesson: timing.
Running over time is one of the fastest ways to lose an audience. Comedian Al Murray’s advice to simply “slow down” applies equally to complex scientific explanations. And perhaps most importantly, performance is dialogue. Singer-songwriter Frank Turner describes being on stage as communication, not monologue. Even in silence, the audience is part of the exchange. Paul experienced this transformation directly. When he began focusing on what audiences would take away, questions became more thoughtful, engagement increased, and talks became energizing rather than draining.
If you are excited about everything, the audience will struggle to know what truly matters. Strategic emphasis is powerful.
A message for you:
Your talk is often the first impression someone has of your work. It can attract collaborators, it can inspire students, and it can even shape the direction of future conversations.
We invest years into our data. Communicating it effectively is not vanity, it is responsibility.
If you’d like to explore the original articles:
All the best,
Elisa Romero Avila
ISB Student Representative 2025-2027
When conference season approaches, many of us are polishing our slides, rehearsing our timing, and preparing to step onto a stage.
And let’s be honest, we have all experienced this.
The final talk of the day. The lights are low. The audience is tired. Phones slowly appear. Someone checks the time. The speaker apologizes for standing between everyone and the networking drinks.
Now imagine the same setting at a concert. Lights low. Final act of the day. The performer steps on stage. The room comes alive.
What makes the difference?
In a recent Nature Careers column, John Tregoning explores how scientists can learn from comedians, musicians and actors to better engage audiences. His message is simple: scientific talks are performances. And perhaps the most convincing ilustration comes from a scientist who stepped into the world of stand-up comedy.
Science is not just information. It Is performance.
Tregoning argues that talks often fall flat not because the science is weak, but because delivery is. Conference presentations do more than sharing data. They:
- Advertise your lab
- Attract collaborators, students, and future team members
- Spark cross-disciplinary ideas
- Shape how your work is remembered
- Own the stage
- Avoid hiding behind the lectern
- Vary your tone
- Think about the narrative flow of your talk
- Close with something that sticks
From stage paralysis to stand-up comedy
Avraneel Paul describes a moment many researchers know well: standing in front of an audience, frozen, unable to find the next words. Instead of retreating, he did something radical. He signed up for an open mic night at a stand-up comedy club. Not because he wanted to become a comedian, but because he admired their confidence and stage control.
From that experience, he learned three things that align remarkably well with Tregoning’s advice:
- Study other performers: He attended more talks and watched skilled speakers carefully. Performers observe other performers. Scientists can do the same
- Write a script: Even if some speakers improvise, preparation matters. A script helped transform “cluttered thoughts into spoken words” and reduced anxiety
- Practice until it becomes muscle memory: Rehearsing pauses, gestures, and timing eventually made his delivery feel natural rather than forced
Tell the story, not just the data
One of the most powerful shifts Paul describes is this: he stopped “merely presenting results” and began viewing his research through a storyteller’s lens. Tregoning makes a similar point when comparing talks to a band’s set list. You cannot play ten data-heavy slides in a row and expect sustained engagement. You need variation, pacing, tension, and resolution.
People remember narratives. They rarely remember slide 27.
Timing, presence, and dialogue
Another shared lesson: timing.
Running over time is one of the fastest ways to lose an audience. Comedian Al Murray’s advice to simply “slow down” applies equally to complex scientific explanations. And perhaps most importantly, performance is dialogue. Singer-songwriter Frank Turner describes being on stage as communication, not monologue. Even in silence, the audience is part of the exchange. Paul experienced this transformation directly. When he began focusing on what audiences would take away, questions became more thoughtful, engagement increased, and talks became energizing rather than draining.
If you are excited about everything, the audience will struggle to know what truly matters. Strategic emphasis is powerful.
A message for you:
Your talk is often the first impression someone has of your work. It can attract collaborators, it can inspire students, and it can even shape the direction of future conversations.
We invest years into our data. Communicating it effectively is not vanity, it is responsibility.
If you’d like to explore the original articles:
- John Tregoning, Public-speaking tips from the experts: what scientists can learn from comics, musicians and actors. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-025-04166-2
- Avraneel Paul, I feared presenting my research to an audience—until I tried stand-up comedy. https://www.science.org/content/arti...d-stand-comedy
All the best,
Elisa Romero Avila
ISB Student Representative 2025-2027
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