Science talks & science comedy

Melbourne International Comedy Festival

Future Science Talks: Comedy Edition is debuting at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival 2024 after sold out shows across Australia. Tickets are available here.

23 scientists from Melbourne have partnered with comedians to infuse humour and laughs into scientific talks. Laugh and learn at the same time!

At each show, you’ll be hearing from Melbourne’s best and brightest young and emerging science professionals.

Each talk is on a unique topic. No two talks are the same!

Three shows will take place on 18 and 19 April at Science Gallery Melbourne.

Speaker information and their topics is below.

Melbourne International Comedy Festival Topics & Speakers

Thursday 18 April at 6:30pm (Science Gallery Melbourne)

  • Alexander Wallace, Monash University: Stars & Gravity

  • Leandra Rhodes-Dicker, RMIT University: Sustainable Sanitation

  • Jake Kotevski, Monash University: Carnivorous Dinosaurs

  • Kade Huckstep - The Florey Institute: MDMA-Assisted Therapy

  • Chloe Gordon, Australian Catholic University: Media & Wellbeing

  • Megha Sharma, Monash University: Supermassive Black Holes

  • Nathan Eizenberg, University of Melbourne: Weather Forecasts

  • Kim Reid, Monash University: Rainfall & Climate Change

Friday 19 April at 6:00pm (Science Gallery Melbourne)

  • Daniel Woodman, University of Melbourne: Generational Divides

  • Geetika Verma, RMIT University: Cybersecurity

  • Cláudia Gonçalves, Deakin University: LGBTQA+ Mental Health Services

  • Ryan Turner, Swinburne University of Technology: Cosmology

  • Alex Davenport, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute: Brain Cancer Immunotherapies

  • Catriona Nguyen-Robertson, University of Melbourne: Skincare Allergies

  • Darcie Cooper, Deakin University: Bacteria & Joint Replacements

Friday 19 April at 8:00pm (Science Gallery Melbourne)

  • Alind Vats, Felix: AI & Disinformation

  • Kira Hughes, Deakin University: Asthma Thunderstorm Warnings

  • Adam Batten, Swinburne University of Technology: Universe Expansion

  • Alyssa Fjeld, Monash University: Arthropod Growth Patterns

  • Chris Freelance, University of Melbourne: Animal Sensory Adaptations

  • Diana Robledo-Ruiz, Monash University: Saving Endangered Species

  • Emily Pilkington, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences: Nanoparticle mRNA Technologies

  • Luke Burgess, University of Melbourne: Hydrogen & Global Warming

EOI open for scientists & researchers in Melbourne

Join the Science Comedy Program for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to feature in a major festival in Melbourne.

Strengthen your presentation and public speaking skills, explore your inner comedian, and have fun!

Fill in our EOI form if you are interested in joining the Science Comedy Program in Melbourne.

In this program, you will participate in a series of workshops that will help you to strengthen your presentation skills and help you to weave humour into your talks.

We may create a new program for the second half of 2024 for the Melbourne Fringe. Applicants who fill out an EOI will automatically be considered for future programs, including the 2025 Melbourne International Comedy Festival.

The program is nation-wide, so if you live in another part of Australia and you’re interested in participating, we also recommend you fill out the EOI.

For additional information, see testimonials and FAQs below, or visit our program page.

What program participants say

  • "Incredibly professional and helpful. Performing was unreal. "

    Hannah Kunst

  • "Great program connecting scientists to amused audiences."

    Sally Hurst

  • "Super fun and I learned heaps! Great experience."

    Lorenzo Logi

  • "Dave is a really nice and supportive facilitator."

    Taylor Szyszka

  • "I learnt a lot and had an awesome time doing it!"

    Joel Raymond

  • "It was fun and a great way to meet diverse, intelligent people!"

    Amanda Khoury

  • "A blast! I highly recommend this program"

    Lachlan Gray

  • "A very cool way to learn some skills for future presentations."

    Zoe Xirocostas

  • "This program helped me get on the National Science Quiz!"

    Paige Erpf

  • "Very fun to present my research in this way."

    Toby Kovacs

  • "This program gave me so much! I can apply these tools to any talks."

    Inna Osmolovsky

  • "So much fun to weave jokes into my science talks."

    Faraidoon Haghdoost

  • "Such a unique experience being able to feature in a comedy show."

    Tanja Rosenqvist

  • "I really enjoyed the experience - would recommend it!

    Kovi Rose

  • "This was a lot of fun. Great way to learn some new skills."

    Jared Bergman

  • "A great way to present my science and research."

    Levi Tegg

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FAQs

  • The program is designed with a busy working professional in mind.

    Your time will be spent on working on your presentation and attending several workshops.

    There are 5 workshops of various length. They focus on different elements such as storytelling, joke writing, body posture when presenting, thinking quickly on your feet, handling nerves, and even how to hold a microphone like a pro!

  • We designed the program to be free for participants. Particularly as we are trying to generate opportunities for early to mid-career professionals.

    Unfortunately, when the program was completely free, some people signed up but then flaked out.

    We are now requesting a very small and mostly symbolic workplace contribution to ensure participants are committed. For PhD Candidates, we understand that this may be challenging and we have mechanisms to support you. It is also okay to self-fund if this is your preference.

  • Absolutely not. Well, chances are you are already funny in certain situations - such as with your good friends. We will work with you and show you techniques that will enable you to harness this side of yourself so that you shine when on stage.

    There is a science behind comedy, and we will teach this to you.

  • Not at all. Most people in our program do not have a lot of public speaking experience.

    The program is designed for those who are interested in upskilling their speaking ability.

  • It’s very easy - fill in the EOI and we will be in touch. The EOI takes about 60 seconds. We generally contact applicants on a first come, first serve basis. So we recommend you apply early.

  • Now. The EOI only takes 60 seconds. We contact applicants on a first come, first serve basis. We will contact you as soon as a Science Comedy Program opens in your area.

Supported by Inspiring Australia Victoria

We thank Inspiring Australia Victoria for their support for the the Science Comedy Program in in Melbourne.

Join the Science Comedy Program Now