About The Event

Not your typical scientist, British biologist Associate Prof Alison Woollard takes the center stage in our first virtual fireside chat of 2024!

Science and comedy appear unrelated to many but for A/Prof Woollard, comedy is her weapon of choice when it comes to science communication. And she’s not alone, over the last few years there has been a growing interest in the use of comedy and humor to explain scientific knowledge to the masses.

Cue: Big Bang Theory, a widely successful mainstream comedy sitcom about scientists ✨

But where do we begin? What are some tips and pitfalls to look out for?

Join us in this one-hour session as A/Prof Woollard shares about:

⦿ Her journey in science and humor

⦿ Tips and tricks to sprinkle some excitement on your next science spiel

⦿ Balancing humor and facts, pitfalls to watch out for

⦿ Response from the scientific community

A/Prof Woollard is a biologist at the University of Oxford and a committed science communicator who actively participates in a diverse range of public engagement activities, from pop festivals to stand-up comedy.

So mark your calendars and get ready to laugh and learn! Who said science has to be as dry as a chemistry joke without a reaction?

Admission is on the house; simply register here and prepare your burning questions ahead (and maybe a joke or two).

We’ll see you there!

| About the Speaker |

A/Prof Alison Woollard is an Associate Professor in the Biochemistry Department at the University of Oxford, where she heads the Cell Biology, Development and Genetics research theme and leads a group working on C. elegans (roundworms) genetics. She is also a fellow in Biochemistry at Hertford College, University of Oxford.

For her public engagement activities, A/Prof Woollard was awarded the 2015 JBS Haldane Award and appointed as the University of Oxford’s Academic Champion for Public Engagement with Research.

Along with research, she is highly passionate about science communication, believing in science communication as a way to not just share science, but to democratise it.

As she puts it, “Tell a story. It’s all about telling a story. Stories are what make us human.”

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This program is proudly brought to you by the EcosySTEM, a community of STEM professionals in Asia.