STEM Researcher Callout
Want to improve your STEM communication skills?
Are you looking to share your research with a new audience?
Applications are now open for anyone working in science, technology, engineering, maths, and medicine (STEM) who are interested in reinventing how they communicate their work through participating in a comedy showcase at National Science Week!
Dr Karl will be one of your mentors and will headline the STEAM Room comedy show.
If you’re selected as a finalist for our showcase, you’ll receive a series of free workshops and mentoring sessions from established comedians and science communicators, including the legendary Dr Karl! Then you’ll have the opportunity to join them on stage at the Giant Dwarf Theatre during National Science Week to present your comedy set to a live crowd.
You don’t need to have any experience at comedy to be involved in the showcase. We are looking for applicants who are passionate about communicating their work, excited about bringing STEM to the people of Sydney and are interested in trying something new (and potentially terrifying)!
Your performance isn't restricted to only your field, we want to hear about anything science related you find interesting, your experiences studying or working in STEM or issues in the world that could be addressed by science!
If you are selected as a finalist for the STEMM comedian showcase finalist, you will receive:
Coaching from leading Sydney comedians and science communicators on how to turn your STEMM stories and research into a stand-up set! This will include a comedy masterclass as well as one-on-one mentoring sessions.
The chance to win part of a total $500 cash prize pool on the night for the funniest set.
An opportunity to develop key skills in narrative formation, crowd engagement and comedic delivery to refresh your communication style.
A professionally produced video of your stand-up performance to use in your STEM engagement portfolio (and to kick-start your career in comedy)!
Amazing exposure to a new audience previously unengaged in your research (i.e. the comedy crowd). If you’re trying to avoid preaching to the choir, this is your chance!
How to apply
Applications have now closed for the August edition of The STEAM Room. However, if you are interested in being contacted in the future about other STEM Comedy opportunities, please fill out this form.
Your Pitch
Your application will include a paragraph below outlining what concepts, stories or jokes you want to cover if are selected to join the show!
Obviously, your pitch won’t be perfect, the comedy workshops and mentoring are there to help polish your rough ideas into material ready for the stage. What we want to see from the pitch is what type of content do you want to perform, your style of your humour and how confident you are at presenting your work.
Your material don't have to be directly linked to your research, they can be anything STEM related (i.e. the perils of AI, that annoying science teacher you had as a kid, lab/fieldwork catastrophes, etc).
Project Timeline
Mid May - Applications open
Early June - Short-listed applicants invited to prepare a 1 minute pitch video
Mid June - Finalists announced
Late June - First mentoring session
Early July - Full day comedy workshop with comedians and STEM communicators (including Dr Karl)
Mid July - Second mentoring session
Early August - Final Rehearsal
August 19th - Finalists perform at The STEAM Room Comedy Night!
If you have any questions about The STEAM Room or comedy showcase, please contact l.steller@unsw.edu.au
This initiative is supported by Inspiring Australia as part of National Science Week.