Acting Classes Give Scientists Tools to Pitch their Work
Original article from: Boston Globe posted on October 20, 2015. by Tracy Jan
The men and women stared intently into their partner’s eyes, slowly stretching their arms and bending to the side, in a silent and mysterious dance. They struggled to stifle giggles as they mirrored each other’s awkward movements.
The improvisational theater game was designed to train them to pay close attention so they could better connect with audiences. But these were not actors. They were microbiologists and neuroscientists, computer engineers and astrophysicists who have spent their careers trying to cure cancer, slow global warming, and explore the possibility of life on Mars.
The point of the exercise was to teach these 32 hand-picked Boston University scientists to be as tuned-in and persuasive as possible when they pitch their work to lawmakers, federal agencies, and a largely indifferent public. Support from all three quarters is essential for funding to continue.
“The exercises seem silly and trivial, but they make you vulnerable and open to other people,” said Alan Alda, the actor best known for his role in the television series “M*A*S*H,’’ in a phone interview. “You’re not spraying them with knowledge. You’re connecting with them. The more you’re aware of the other person’s response, the clearer you are going to be and the more impact you could have.”