Improvisation for Scientists: Workshops by Alan Alda and the Center for Communicating Science

This video provides a glimpse of workshops Alan Alda led in 2009 for Stony Brook University graduate students, using improvisational theater games to help them connect more directly and personally when they discuss their work The Center for Communicacting Science, a cooperative effort of Stony Brook University, Brookhaven National Laboratory and Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, is continuing to explore this approach. For more information, see the Center website at www.stonybrook.edu/journalism/science or email [e-mail]

[@vinylmisfit2165]

I am currently reading Alan Alda’s book on this very subject, watching these videos are helping me understand the reading material further, I also, can’t BELIEVE the before and after of these scientists. They go from sounding like they are reading excerpts from a textbook to sounding like they are doing a TED Talk! Much respect to Alan Alda.

[@ssnhillyard]

I've been doing this with hundreds of Uni professors in China!

[@MultiSmartass1]

The difference here is that previously the professionals here were hesitant and resluctant in discussing their field of expertise, afterwards they are clearly fasnicated and enthusiastic. What has changed is not their verbiage but their demanor and attitude. Utterly fasincating approach with improv

[@CraigHocker]

Would have been a really liberating thing to have experienced in grad school or early in my career. very interesting.

[@Improchannel]

Just great! Excellent idea.

[@BethBoynton]

Medical Improv is a related concept that is growing in the healthcare community b/c it builds communication, collaboration, and emotional intelligence. In case you are interested, there's a youtube about called, "Medical Improv: Exploring Learning Experiences that Promote Safe Care, Patient Satisfaction, & Rewarding Careers".

[@TiticatFollies]

Medical doctors! If anybody needs this work, doctors do. They are the most ineffectual communicators I can think of!