While stand-up comedy is not a passion normally associated with a career in the chemical sciences, they can be mixed to enhance education, communication and innovation in the field of chemical sciences. How ten years of performing nationally as a stand-up comedy was integrated with a faculty career in the School of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering at Georgia Tech to produce unique efforts in education, research, STEM outreach and two start-up companies will be described. Specific examples of this integration will be illustrated with research efforts that include the use of improvisational humor to catalyze technical innovation, and an NSF-funded effort to use humor to improve technical education.  Artistic examples will be discussed including stand-up comedy at technical symposia, numerous television auditions, and a nationally touring one-man show that is a hilarious and educational look at science and engineering and their practitioners. Media applications will be also be discussed including a weekly podcast and a weekly radio show on science and technology whose motto is �Science, only funnier.�

Mixing a career in stand-up comedy and the chemical sciences to enhance technical education, communication, and innovation

248th National Meeting (2014)

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