Top Ten Science Comedians
Combining science with comedy seems to be an unusual pairing at first. Scientists are known for being objective and truthful, and comedians, well they can stretch the truth a little! So what do science and comedy have in common? A lot more than you would think. Both scientists and comedians must be excellent communicators, and engaging with an audience is key to getting ideas across in a memorable way. Comedy is a great way to do this, and using humor to entertain others, whilst sneaking in some truthful science, seems to be the most effective way to get people to remember your content.
In no particular order, here is our list of 10 science comedians using comedy to promote science:
1) Dean Burnett
Dean Burnett is a Welsh comedian and author. Dean completed his BSc in Neuroscience at Cardiff University and later returned to complete his PhD. He is now a full-time author and has written numerous books on neuroscience for a wide audience. Dean has featured on multiple radio stations and TV shows as well as performing his stand-up shows across the UK. He also runs a popular blog titled 'Brain Yapping' on The Cosmic Shambles Network, where Dean covers important topics in a humorous yet sensitive manner.
More info at: https://www.deanburnett.com/
2) Kyle Marian
Kyle Marian is a former Physical Anthropologist who is passionate about using comedy to communicate science topics. She has performed in the UK's 'Bright Club' and at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Kyle Marian is currently a community manager for the Science Friday initiative and producer of The Symposium: Academic Stand-Up. Not only does she produce relatable comedy, but she also trains other scientists to use comedy to improve their communication skills.
More info at: Science Comedy Saloon: Meet The Performers
3) Kasha Patel
After majoring in Chemistry and completing her master's in science journalism, Kasha started her career in science comedy in 2014 when she produced her first Science Comedy Night. Since then, Kasha has founded her own comedy production company; DC Science Comedy, presented on TEDx, featured in BBC World News and hosted “Earth Expeditions” for NASA TV. This accomplished comedian entertains both scientists and non-academics, and her comedy is the perfect mix of informative and entertaining.
More info at: Kasha Patel
4) Helen Arney
With a degree in Physics and a masters in Playwriting and Screenwriting, Helen puts an interesting twist on science communication. Armed with a ukelele, Helen performs sets across the world including at the National Institute, Norwegian Science Week and the National Astronomy Meeting. This talented comedian has also presented on BBC2 Coast, The Discovery Channel and BBC Radio 4.
More info at: helenarney.com
5) Samuel Gregson
Samuel Gregson is a particle physicist with a flair for comedy and science entertainment. During his PhD he performed at Bright Club, Science Showoff and Science Slam. Now he has founded LHComedy and is enthusiastic about making science accessible to all ages. On his website he says, “Explaining science and critical reasoning through comedy is a great way to engage audiences that don't attend traditional scientific outreach events and challenge the stereotypes that surround scientists.”
More info at: The Bad Boy of Science
6) Robin Ince
Co-host of the popular show The Infinite Monkey Cage, author, TV presenter and stand-up comedian Robin Ince had to be on this list! When he's not on BBC Radio 4, he's co-hosting podcasts such as “Book Shambles” and “An Uncanny Hour” where he explores a range of scientific topics.
More info at: Robin Ince
7) Steve Mould
You may know Steve from his videos on YouTube explaining strange inventions, His channel has over 3 million subscribers and his most popular video “The Assassin's Teapot is Weird” has over 46 million views. But Steve is not just a YouTuber, he has also written four children's books and performs on The Festival of the Spoken Nerd science comedy show alongside Helen Arney and Matt Parker. His models for explaining scientific phenomena and professionally produced videos make him an excellent and entertaining science communicator.
More info at: Steve Mould
8) Shannon Odell
Shannon Odell is a neuroscientist, comedian, and science host. She has appeared on multiple TV shows including “Big Ideas with Little Kids” and “What on Earth” on the Science Channel. She has also produced short form content for various campaigns including Inverse Media and Seeker. On top of all this she also co-hosts not one but two podcasts! Be sure to check out The Science of Self-Care and Fun City.
More info at: Shannon Odell (shannoncodell.com)
9) Saad Sarwana
Saad Sarwana, also known as “The Stand-up Physicist”, has published an impressive 40+ peer-reviewed papers. He has been featured as a science expert on many shows including over 100 episodes of “Outrageous Acts of Science”. He is also the owner and host of The Science Fiction and Fantasy Spelling Bee featuring only words that cannot be found in your typical dictionary. Using his personal anecdotes and life experience for comedic inspiration, Saad entertains a diverse audience with his stand-up shows across the US.
More info at: Saad Sarwana – Standup Physicist
10) Adam Ruben
Author, comedian and molecular biologist, Adam Reuben is an accomplished science comedian. Since completing his PhD at Johns Hopkins University, Adam has gone on to write two books, featured on multiple shows including Netflix’s The Mortified Guide and now tours the US performing his solo show, giving lectures on science careers, and talking about his books.
More info at: Adam Ruben | Science Comedian
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We hope you've enjoyed our list of Top Ten Science Comedians, and maybe these comedians have inspired you to incorporate some humour into your next presentation, or even produce your own stand-up!
More ‘Top Tens’ from Hello Bio!
If you’ve enjoyed browsing this lists, here are a few more fun 'top tens' to check out on the Hello Bio blog:
- 10 Funny Science Songs You Need to Hear
- Ten of our Favourite Science Memes
- Our Top 10 Science Podcasts
- Ten Science Poems You Need to Read
- Ten Scientists to Follow on TikTok
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