I want you to take me seriously right isn’t that why I’m up here standing on a
isn’t that why I’m up here standing on a
isn’t that why I’m up here standing on a stage wearing a microphone wearing my
stage wearing a microphone wearing my
stage wearing a microphone wearing my nice clothes
nice clothes
nice clothes I mean I’m speaking slowly and
I mean I’m speaking slowly and
I mean I’m speaking slowly and emphatically I have a PhD come on and
emphatically I have a PhD come on and
emphatically I have a PhD come on and that’s a lot of markers to show that I
that’s a lot of markers to show that I
that’s a lot of markers to show that I have status right as a scientist I can
have status right as a scientist I can
have status right as a scientist I can tell you status matters it’s how you get
tell you status matters it’s how you get
tell you status matters it’s how you get people to listen but it’s not the only
people to listen but it’s not the only
people to listen but it’s not the only way you can also get people to listen by
way you can also get people to listen by
way you can also get people to listen by cracking a joke by not being so serious
cracking a joke by not being so serious
cracking a joke by not being so serious by not taking yourself so seriously a
by not taking yourself so seriously a
by not taking yourself so seriously a joke is a surprise it’s an invitation to
joke is a surprise it’s an invitation to
joke is a surprise it’s an invitation to see what surprises are next so for me as
see what surprises are next so for me as
see what surprises are next so for me as a physicist who works on nanomaterials
a physicist who works on nanomaterials
a physicist who works on nanomaterials for novel electronics I find myself
for novel electronics I find myself
for novel electronics I find myself cracking jokes all the time my work is
cracking jokes all the time my work is
cracking jokes all the time my work is about building electronics that are
about building electronics that are
about building electronics that are structured like the brain to interface
structured like the brain to interface
structured like the brain to interface with the brain itself I’m basically
with the brain itself I’m basically
with the brain itself I’m basically enabling the cyborg revolution and as my
enabling the cyborg revolution and as my
enabling the cyborg revolution and as my dad always said to me if you can present
dad always said to me if you can present
dad always said to me if you can present new scientific results and crack a joke
new scientific results and crack a joke
new scientific results and crack a joke about them it shows that you’re really
about them it shows that you’re really
about them it shows that you’re really confident in your work but I think
confident in your work but I think
confident in your work but I think there’s more to it than that
there’s more to it than that
there’s more to it than that science and comedy have a lot in common
science and comedy have a lot in common
science and comedy have a lot in common they’re both creative they’re both about
they’re both creative they’re both about
they’re both creative they’re both about thinking outside the box about appending
thinking outside the box about appending
thinking outside the box about appending traditional frameworks about not
traditional frameworks about not
traditional frameworks about not accepting the status quo and science is
accepting the status quo and science is
accepting the status quo and science is about truth and comedy is about
well comedy is famously not universal
well comedy is famously not universal right what you find funny depends on
right what you find funny depends on
right what you find funny depends on context it depends on our shared
context it depends on our shared
context it depends on our shared understandings of the world around us it
understandings of the world around us it
understandings of the world around us it depends on national character it depends
depends on national character it depends
depends on national character it depends on culture so I would tell different
on culture so I would tell different
on culture so I would tell different jokes at a physics conference than I
jokes at a physics conference than I
jokes at a physics conference than I would at a stand-up comedy night this is
would at a stand-up comedy night this is
would at a stand-up comedy night this is because the things that physicists tend
because the things that physicists tend
because the things that physicists tend to laugh at are a bit weird which is why
to laugh at are a bit weird which is why
to laugh at are a bit weird which is why everyone else tends to laugh at
everyone else tends to laugh at
everyone else tends to laugh at physicists so thanks but even if comedy
physicists so thanks but even if comedy
physicists so thanks but even if comedy is not universal I think it’s something
is not universal I think it’s something
is not universal I think it’s something that we all do everyone has a sense of
that we all do everyone has a sense of
that we all do everyone has a sense of humor somewhere and when we do the act
humor somewhere and when we do the act
humor somewhere and when we do the act of comedy when we make jokes
of comedy when we make jokes
of comedy when we make jokes we’re actually fulfilling a lot of
we’re actually fulfilling a lot of
we’re actually fulfilling a lot of important social functions you know if
important social functions you know if
important social functions you know if you and I laugh at the same jokes that
you and I laugh at the same jokes that
you and I laugh at the same jokes that means we’re part of the same team right
means we’re part of the same team right
means we’re part of the same team right comedy is also a great social equalizer
comedy is also a great social equalizer
comedy is also a great social equalizer it breaks down socio-economic barriers
it breaks down socio-economic barriers
it breaks down socio-economic barriers because think about it who’s the perfect
because think about it who’s the perfect
because think about it who’s the perfect butt of a joke it’s a high-status person
butt of a joke it’s a high-status person
butt of a joke it’s a high-status person like a businessman walking and slipping
like a businessman walking and slipping
like a businessman walking and slipping on a banana peel that’s funny but if you
on a banana peel that’s funny but if you
on a banana peel that’s funny but if you make fun of someone who has low status
make fun of someone who has low status
make fun of someone who has low status that’s punching down it’s not good
that’s punching down it’s not good
that’s punching down it’s not good comedy
comedy
comedy so comedy innately appends these social
so comedy innately appends these social
so comedy innately appends these social hierarchies and comedy is important for
hierarchies and comedy is important for
hierarchies and comedy is important for forming identity you know if you laughed
forming identity you know if you laughed
forming identity you know if you laughed at my physics joke maybe that means
at my physics joke maybe that means
at my physics joke maybe that means you’re more likely to identify a science
you’re more likely to identify a science
you’re more likely to identify a science positive which in this case is a good
positive which in this case is a good
positive which in this case is a good thing not an STI comedy is also a really
thing not an STI comedy is also a really
thing not an STI comedy is also a really important way to talk about trickier
important way to talk about trickier
important way to talk about trickier things you know comedy news shows like
things you know comedy news shows like
things you know comedy news shows like The Daily Show and last week tonight are
The Daily Show and last week tonight are
The Daily Show and last week tonight are actually more popular than the real news
actually more popular than the real news
actually more popular than the real news a lot of the time have you ever heard
a lot of the time have you ever heard
a lot of the time have you ever heard the saying laughs so you don’t cry I
the saying laughs so you don’t cry I
the saying laughs so you don’t cry I think in our current political climate
think in our current political climate
think in our current political climate that’s especially apt and comedy is a
that’s especially apt and comedy is a
that’s especially apt and comedy is a great way to talk about even challenging
great way to talk about even challenging
great way to talk about even challenging academic topics so I run a comedy night
academic topics so I run a comedy night
academic topics so I run a comedy night in Ireland called bright Club where
in Ireland called bright Club where
in Ireland called bright Club where academics come
academics come
academics come and learn how to talk about their
and learn how to talk about their
and learn how to talk about their research using a stand-up comedy
research using a stand-up comedy
research using a stand-up comedy I’ve taught people to tell jokes about
I’ve taught people to tell jokes about
I’ve taught people to tell jokes about their research who study things like
their research who study things like
their research who study things like physics space medieval literature music
physics space medieval literature music
physics space medieval literature music gender theory you name it it turns out
gender theory you name it it turns out
gender theory you name it it turns out that comedy is an amazing way to engage
that comedy is an amazing way to engage
that comedy is an amazing way to engage with these challenging academic subjects
with these challenging academic subjects
with these challenging academic subjects and cutting-edge research I’ve also
and cutting-edge research I’ve also
and cutting-edge research I’ve also tried to get academics to do comedy sets
tried to get academics to do comedy sets
tried to get academics to do comedy sets about their research in areas like human
about their research in areas like human
about their research in areas like human rights violations and torture it turns
rights violations and torture it turns
rights violations and torture it turns out that torture comedy is not as
out that torture comedy is not as
out that torture comedy is not as popular as you might think
popular as you might think
popular as you might think apparently I’m a bad person for asking
apparently I’m a bad person for asking
apparently I’m a bad person for asking but I think that even in these really
but I think that even in these really
but I think that even in these really tough subjects you know if we can find
tough subjects you know if we can find
tough subjects you know if we can find the surprise the funny the humanity it’s
the surprise the funny the humanity it’s
the surprise the funny the humanity it’s a way to humanize the things that are
a way to humanize the things that are
a way to humanize the things that are hard to talk about we laugh so we don’t
hard to talk about we laugh so we don’t
hard to talk about we laugh so we don’t cry and of course the most obvious fact
cry and of course the most obvious fact
cry and of course the most obvious fact about comedy is also the truest it’s fun
about comedy is also the truest it’s fun
about comedy is also the truest it’s fun right comedy doesn’t have to always be
right comedy doesn’t have to always be
right comedy doesn’t have to always be about difficult subjects nor should it
about difficult subjects nor should it
about difficult subjects nor should it be but that doesn’t mean that we
be but that doesn’t mean that we
be but that doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t take comedy seriously because
shouldn’t take comedy seriously because
shouldn’t take comedy seriously because think about it when you’re listening to
think about it when you’re listening to
think about it when you’re listening to a joke what are you doing you’re waiting
a joke what are you doing you’re waiting
a joke what are you doing you’re waiting for the punchline you’re waiting for the
for the punchline you’re waiting for the
for the punchline you’re waiting for the other shoe to drop waiting for the
other shoe to drop waiting for the
other shoe to drop waiting for the script to be flipped waiting for the
script to be flipped waiting for the
script to be flipped waiting for the reveal you’re open to changing your mind
reveal you’re open to changing your mind
reveal you’re open to changing your mind and in fact you expect to so doesn’t
and in fact you expect to so doesn’t
and in fact you expect to so doesn’t that make comedy kind of the perfect
that make comedy kind of the perfect
that make comedy kind of the perfect antidote for this echo chamber bubble
antidote for this echo chamber bubble
antidote for this echo chamber bubble world that we’re all increasingly living
world that we’re all increasingly living
world that we’re all increasingly living in I mean it’s no fun to only talk to
in I mean it’s no fun to only talk to
in I mean it’s no fun to only talk to people who agree with you but it’s also
people who agree with you but it’s also
people who agree with you but it’s also tough if you try to engage with a new
tough if you try to engage with a new
tough if you try to engage with a new way of looking at something and you get
way of looking at something and you get
way of looking at something and you get piled on or harassed for it so if you’re
piled on or harassed for it so if you’re
piled on or harassed for it so if you’re interested in thinking about lots of
interested in thinking about lots of
interested in thinking about lots of different perspectives when you form
different perspectives when you form
different perspectives when you form your own opinion well comedy has that
your own opinion well comedy has that
your own opinion well comedy has that built in and if comedy can help someone
built in and if comedy can help someone
built in and if comedy can help someone think about a new angle on an important
think about a new angle on an important
think about a new angle on an important subject I think that’s amazing
subject I think that’s amazing
subject I think that’s amazing I think it’s an immense social good and
I think it’s an immense social good and
I think it’s an immense social good and it’s also a friendly way to talk about
it’s also a friendly way to talk about
it’s also a friendly way to talk about what matters now I sometimes wonder if
what matters now I sometimes wonder if
what matters now I sometimes wonder if the reason that I think comedy is so
the reason that I think comedy is so
the reason that I think comedy is so important for everyone is that it was
important for everyone is that it was
important for everyone is that it was really important
really important
really important for me growing up my dad and I used to
for me growing up my dad and I used to
for me growing up my dad and I used to tell jokes back and forth to each other
tell jokes back and forth to each other
tell jokes back and forth to each other all the time all jokes new jokes long
all the time all jokes new jokes long
all the time all jokes new jokes long jokes short jokes we would go through
jokes short jokes we would go through
jokes short jokes we would go through all of who’s on first together you know
all of who’s on first together you know
all of who’s on first together you know the classic Abbott and Costello routine
the classic Abbott and Costello routine
the classic Abbott and Costello routine about a baseball team we would practice
about a baseball team we would practice
about a baseball team we would practice telling these long jokes with elaborate
telling these long jokes with elaborate
telling these long jokes with elaborate setups and very convoluted punchlines
setups and very convoluted punchlines
setups and very convoluted punchlines and then we got really good at them we’d
and then we got really good at them we’d
and then we got really good at them we’d go back and retell the jokes getting
go back and retell the jokes getting
go back and retell the jokes getting every element of the punchlines subtly
every element of the punchlines subtly
every element of the punchlines subtly wrong and then present the final mangled
wrong and then present the final mangled
wrong and then present the final mangled punchline as if it was a triumph instead
punchline as if it was a triumph instead
punchline as if it was a triumph instead of a failure as a failure is funny too
of a failure as a failure is funny too
of a failure as a failure is funny too right
right
right well the biggest joke of all is that
well the biggest joke of all is that
well the biggest joke of all is that about a year and a half ago my dad was
about a year and a half ago my dad was
about a year and a half ago my dad was diagnosed with colon cancer he had to be
diagnosed with colon cancer he had to be
diagnosed with colon cancer he had to be hospitalized he needed emergency surgery
hospitalized he needed emergency surgery
hospitalized he needed emergency surgery had to start chemotherapy and it was
had to start chemotherapy and it was
had to start chemotherapy and it was awful it wasn’t funny at all at first
awful it wasn’t funny at all at first
awful it wasn’t funny at all at first and then I went to see this amazing
and then I went to see this amazing
and then I went to see this amazing comedy show called Edwin salmon versus
comedy show called Edwin salmon versus
comedy show called Edwin salmon versus cancer where the comedian Edmund salmon
cancer where the comedian Edmund salmon
cancer where the comedian Edmund salmon got up and talked about how he had been
got up and talked about how he had been
got up and talked about how he had been diagnosed with the exact same cancer as
diagnosed with the exact same cancer as
diagnosed with the exact same cancer as my dad was going through a lot of the
my dad was going through a lot of the
my dad was going through a lot of the same treatments and procedures and
same treatments and procedures and
same treatments and procedures and talking about what was funny or weird or
talking about what was funny or weird or
talking about what was funny or weird or surprising in that experience it was
surprising in that experience it was
surprising in that experience it was real and it was hilarious and it helped
real and it was hilarious and it helped
real and it was hilarious and it helped me find the humanity in what had been
me find the humanity in what had been
me find the humanity in what had been this really tough experience humor
this really tough experience humor
this really tough experience humor became a major way that my dad and I
became a major way that my dad and I
became a major way that my dad and I dealt with his cancer in addition to
dealt with his cancer in addition to
dealt with his cancer in addition to medicine I mean I don’t want to advocate
medicine I mean I don’t want to advocate
medicine I mean I don’t want to advocate some sort of humor Appa the–here at one
some sort of humor Appa the–here at one
some sort of humor Appa the–here at one point he was going into surgery and he
point he was going into surgery and he
point he was going into surgery and he had signed over power of attorney to me
had signed over power of attorney to me
had signed over power of attorney to me so I told him you know how much I loved
so I told him you know how much I loved
so I told him you know how much I loved him and then I described at length the
him and then I described at length the
him and then I described at length the tattoos that I was going to have the
tattoos that I was going to have the
tattoos that I was going to have the operating room staff put across his
operating room staff put across his
operating room staff put across his belly while he was under my favorite was
belly while he was under my favorite was
belly while he was under my favorite was rebel for life
and then afterwards when he was coming
and then afterwards when he was coming up from the anesthesia and someone said
up from the anesthesia and someone said
up from the anesthesia and someone said to him Eric
to him Eric
to him Eric can you hear me without even opening his
can you hear me without even opening his
can you hear me without even opening his eyes he just shook his head he was
eyes he just shook his head he was
eyes he just shook his head he was barely conscious and he had a tube down
barely conscious and he had a tube down
barely conscious and he had a tube down his throat and still his first instinct
his throat and still his first instinct
his throat and still his first instinct was to make a joke later on I was
was to make a joke later on I was
was to make a joke later on I was sitting with him in the hospital and I
sitting with him in the hospital and I
sitting with him in the hospital and I heard him tell some visitors a story
heard him tell some visitors a story
heard him tell some visitors a story from my childhood it was about how when
from my childhood it was about how when
from my childhood it was about how when I was three or four I was afraid of
I was three or four I was afraid of
I was three or four I was afraid of ghosts and so he developed this ghost
ghosts and so he developed this ghost
ghosts and so he developed this ghost removal procedure to do any time that I
removal procedure to do any time that I
removal procedure to do any time that I got scared so you know if I woke up in
got scared so you know if I woke up in
got scared so you know if I woke up in the middle of the night and I called him
the middle of the night and I called him
the middle of the night and I called him in I said dad I’m scared that there’s
in I said dad I’m scared that there’s
in I said dad I’m scared that there’s ghosts in my room you would check under
ghosts in my room you would check under
ghosts in my room you would check under the bed
the bed
the bed and he would look behind the curtains
and he would look behind the curtains
and he would look behind the curtains and if he found any ghosts he’d eat them
and if he found any ghosts he’d eat them
and if he found any ghosts he’d eat them problem solved right and I said dad I
problem solved right and I said dad I
problem solved right and I said dad I mean no wonder you ended up with colon
mean no wonder you ended up with colon
mean no wonder you ended up with colon cancer your bowels are full of ghosts
cancer your bowels are full of ghosts
cancer your bowels are full of ghosts they’re straight-up haunted fortunately
they’re straight-up haunted fortunately
they’re straight-up haunted fortunately he laughed too and over the course of my
he laughed too and over the course of my
he laughed too and over the course of my life with my dad we developed not a
life with my dad we developed not a
life with my dad we developed not a universal comedy but a very personal one
universal comedy but a very personal one
universal comedy but a very personal one one that was based on our own way of
one that was based on our own way of
one that was based on our own way of kidding around with and affirming each
kidding around with and affirming each
kidding around with and affirming each other of remembering and REE mixing the
other of remembering and REE mixing the
other of remembering and REE mixing the overlapping strands of our lives humor
overlapping strands of our lives humor
overlapping strands of our lives humor is a way even in the toughest times to
is a way even in the toughest times to
is a way even in the toughest times to show that we are creative thinking
show that we are creative thinking
show that we are creative thinking feeling beings comedy is a way to show
feeling beings comedy is a way to show
feeling beings comedy is a way to show our humanity to say that we can laugh
our humanity to say that we can laugh
our humanity to say that we can laugh and we can cry a month ago my dad passed
and we can cry a month ago my dad passed
and we can cry a month ago my dad passed away and I got to tell him that I loved
away and I got to tell him that I loved
away and I got to tell him that I loved him how proud I was of him and I told
him how proud I was of him and I told
him how proud I was of him and I told him that when this was all over I was
him that when this was all over I was
him that when this was all over I was going to tell him about a new business
going to tell him about a new business
going to tell him about a new business venture I was getting involved in I said
venture I was getting involved in I said
venture I was getting involved in I said dad I am looking to invest in this
dad I am looking to invest in this
dad I am looking to invest in this baseball team they’re really talented
baseball team they’re really talented
baseball team they’re really talented but
but
but players have some peculiar names and
players have some peculiar names and
players have some peculiar names and without missing a beat my dad said oh
without missing a beat my dad said oh
without missing a beat my dad said oh yeah who’s on first thank you
”
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