A newly published survey of over 500 science conference presentations found that scientists often fail to get a laugh from their audience.
The study, which spanned a two-year period, discovered that two-thirds of attempts at humor garnered either polite chuckles or dead silence, with only 9% landing well enough to get most of the room laughing.
The biggest laughs came from technical snafus, such as slides malfunctioning and mics cutting out, rather than intentional humor.
The Humor Challenge
According to the study, roughly 40% of talks avoided humor entirely, which may make for a less memorable presentation.
A physician-scientist noted that despite the interesting content at conferences, it can be hard to stay engaged, and that humor can help make talks more memorable.
Conference Engagement
The study highlights the challenges of using humor in front of a cold audience, a difficulty not unique to scientists.
Even experienced comedians, such as those on Saturday Night Live, face this challenge, referring to their opening segment as a “cold open”.
Implications for Presenters
The findings suggest that presenters who can effectively use humor may be able to make their talks more engaging and memorable for their audience.
