[Applause] did you know your fingernails grow at
did you know your fingernails grow at
did you know your fingernails grow at the same rate as plate tectonics
my friends asked me to volunteer for
my friends asked me to volunteer for Dragon Con I skeptical for those of you
Dragon Con I skeptical for those of you
Dragon Con I skeptical for those of you who are it’s a big plant and people go
who are it’s a big plant and people go
who are it’s a big plant and people go they dress up in costume they talk about
they dress up in costume they talk about
they dress up in costume they talk about suit any dependency and yes those are
suit any dependency and yes those are
suit any dependency and yes those are buckets Resta stormtroopers that’s a
buckets Resta stormtroopers that’s a
buckets Resta stormtroopers that’s a thing I can arrive in Huntsville Alabama
thing I can arrive in Huntsville Alabama
thing I can arrive in Huntsville Alabama with the fresh shiny new PhD in physics
with the fresh shiny new PhD in physics
with the fresh shiny new PhD in physics and I was not certain that physicists in
and I was not certain that physicists in
and I was not certain that physicists in science fiction convention really went
science fiction convention really went
science fiction convention really went together I could spend years in graduate
together I could spend years in graduate
together I could spend years in graduate school learning to be a serious
school learning to be a serious
school learning to be a serious scientist to the point that when a
scientist to the point that when a
scientist to the point that when a friend of mine gave me a copy of the
friend of mine gave me a copy of the
friend of mine gave me a copy of the book the physics of Star Trek because I
book the physics of Star Trek because I
book the physics of Star Trek because I was a physicist I died
was a physicist I died
was a physicist I died so in graduate school I had studied very
so in graduate school I had studied very
so in graduate school I had studied very hard to become a physicist and my
hard to become a physicist and my
hard to become a physicist and my friends really wanted me to go work for
friends really wanted me to go work for
friends really wanted me to go work for Dragon Con as one of the members of tech
Dragon Con as one of the members of tech
Dragon Con as one of the members of tech ops the technical operations the people
ops the technical operations the people
ops the technical operations the people who run audio-visual they do flights and
who run audio-visual they do flights and
who run audio-visual they do flights and they do sound and I was an obvious
they do sound and I was an obvious
they do sound and I was an obvious choice because I had a theater degree
choice because I had a theater degree
choice because I had a theater degree and I know what you’re thinking Steven
and I know what you’re thinking Steven
and I know what you’re thinking Steven you gave up a lucrative career in
you gave up a lucrative career in
you gave up a lucrative career in theater for physics so I had a physics
theater for physics so I had a physics
theater for physics so I had a physics degree and I had a theater degree in
degree and I had a theater degree in
degree and I had a theater degree in undergraduate and I really loved doing
undergraduate and I really loved doing
undergraduate and I really loved doing theater but I gave it up when I went to
theater but I gave it up when I went to
theater but I gave it up when I went to graduate school I needed to focus
graduate school I needed to focus
graduate school I needed to focus emphasize a lot of my professors kind of
emphasize a lot of my professors kind of
emphasize a lot of my professors kind of looked down their nose at the very idea
looked down their nose at the very idea
looked down their nose at the very idea of having interests outside of physics
of having interests outside of physics
of having interests outside of physics but I was done with graduate school and
but I was done with graduate school and
but I was done with graduate school and my friends were very persuasive and so
my friends were very persuasive and so
my friends were very persuasive and so eventually I agreed that yes I would
eventually I agreed that yes I would
eventually I agreed that yes I would volunteer for Dragon Con yes I would be
volunteer for Dragon Con yes I would be
volunteer for Dragon Con yes I would be a member of tech ops even though I
a member of tech ops even though I
a member of tech ops even though I wasn’t sure I was the kind of nerd who
wasn’t sure I was the kind of nerd who
wasn’t sure I was the kind of nerd who went to these science fiction
went to these science fiction
went to these science fiction conventions where people dressed up and
conventions where people dressed up and
conventions where people dressed up and spoilers I am in fact exactly that kind
spoilers I am in fact exactly that kind
spoilers I am in fact exactly that kind of error
so as a member of tech ops I crawled
so as a member of tech ops I crawled around and dragged cables I ran sound
around and dragged cables I ran sound
around and dragged cables I ran sound boards I helped lift chick Korea’s piano
boards I helped lift chick Korea’s piano
boards I helped lift chick Korea’s piano up onstage from one of his performance
up onstage from one of his performance
up onstage from one of his performance and I’m pretty sure that thing was made
and I’m pretty sure that thing was made
and I’m pretty sure that thing was made of lead and I had a great time and the
of lead and I had a great time and the
of lead and I had a great time and the other members of tech ops really enjoyed
other members of tech ops really enjoyed
other members of tech ops really enjoyed having a physicist to boss around and
having a physicist to boss around and
having a physicist to boss around and then the science Trek found out about me
then the science Trek found out about me
then the science Trek found out about me did you know what you look into the
did you know what you look into the
did you know what you look into the night sky you were looking into the past
Dragon Con is organized into tracks each
Dragon Con is organized into tracks each track is centered on a given fandom they
track is centered on a given fandom they
track is centered on a given fandom they create panels and other events for for
create panels and other events for for
create panels and other events for for example the Star Wars track or the
example the Star Wars track or the
example the Star Wars track or the fantasy literature track but Dragon Con
fantasy literature track but Dragon Con
fantasy literature track but Dragon Con also has tracks that are focused on
also has tracks that are focused on
also has tracks that are focused on shall we say the fact behind the fiction
shall we say the fact behind the fiction
shall we say the fact behind the fiction there’s a space track there’s a robotics
there’s a space track there’s a robotics
there’s a space track there’s a robotics track and yes there’s a science track
track and yes there’s a science track
track and yes there’s a science track but the director of the science track
but the director of the science track
but the director of the science track hurt the tech ops had their own pet
hurt the tech ops had their own pet
hurt the tech ops had their own pet physicist he hunted me down and he said
physicist he hunted me down and he said
physicist he hunted me down and he said you should give a talk on the science
you should give a talk on the science
you should give a talk on the science track and I said yes and then I realized
track and I said yes and then I realized
track and I said yes and then I realized I had made a tiny huge mistake i given
I had made a tiny huge mistake i given
I had made a tiny huge mistake i given academic talks before but i never given
academic talks before but i never given
academic talks before but i never given a science talk to the public you can
a science talk to the public you can
a science talk to the public you can hear the air quotes around the public
hear the air quotes around the public
hear the air quotes around the public right that’s how I thought about it in
right that’s how I thought about it in
right that’s how I thought about it in my mind back then but after a while I
my mind back then but after a while I
my mind back then but after a while I decided I would be okay because I had
decided I would be okay because I had
decided I would be okay because I had taught classes I had drugged the facts
taught classes I had drugged the facts
taught classes I had drugged the facts into people’s head how different could
into people’s head how different could
into people’s head how different could the audience at DragonCon be all I
the audience at DragonCon be all I
the audience at DragonCon be all I needed to do was pick a topic that would
needed to do was pick a topic that would
needed to do was pick a topic that would be of interest to non scientists and so
be of interest to non scientists and so
be of interest to non scientists and so I picked laser cooling and traffic of
I picked laser cooling and traffic of
I picked laser cooling and traffic of neutral atoms to create a quantum
neutral atoms to create a quantum
neutral atoms to create a quantum superfluid now in my defense that was
superfluid now in my defense that was
superfluid now in my defense that was literally my PhD defense so I felt very
literally my PhD defense so I felt very
literally my PhD defense so I felt very comfortable with it so I prepared the
comfortable with it so I prepared the
comfortable with it so I prepared the talk I gave it and it went really well
talk I gave it and it went really well
talk I gave it and it went really well and the director invited me to come back
and the director invited me to come back
and the director invited me to come back the next year and give another talk so I
the next year and give another talk so I
the next year and give another talk so I did it I went back the second year and I
did it I went back the second year and I
did it I went back the second year and I another science talk and he talked me
another science talk and he talked me
another science talk and he talked me into being on a panel talking about
into being on a panel talking about
into being on a panel talking about science in the works of Joss Whedon
science in the works of Joss Whedon
science in the works of Joss Whedon creator of the TV series Buffy the
creator of the TV series Buffy the
creator of the TV series Buffy the Vampire Slayer in Firefly so where
Vampire Slayer in Firefly so where
Vampire Slayer in Firefly so where before I felt faintly embarrassed about
before I felt faintly embarrassed about
before I felt faintly embarrassed about the idea of combining science and Star
the idea of combining science and Star
the idea of combining science and Star Trek I was now combining science and
Trek I was now combining science and
Trek I was now combining science and Firefly
Firefly
Firefly well things escalated quickly the next
well things escalated quickly the next
well things escalated quickly the next year I gave to science talks and was on
year I gave to science talks and was on
year I gave to science talks and was on to panels and I fell into this rhythm of
to panels and I fell into this rhythm of
to panels and I fell into this rhythm of preparing talks and giving them and
preparing talks and giving them and
preparing talks and giving them and preparing talks and giving them and I
preparing talks and giving them and I
preparing talks and giving them and I got comfortable with them which is when
got comfortable with them which is when
got comfortable with them which is when Dragon Con came to me and said you
Dragon Con came to me and said you
Dragon Con came to me and said you should be the next director of the
should be the next director of the
should be the next director of the science track did you know you’re
science track did you know you’re
science track did you know you’re related to jellyfish I was used to
related to jellyfish I was used to
related to jellyfish I was used to preparing a couple of talks but now as
preparing a couple of talks but now as
preparing a couple of talks but now as the director of science of the science
the director of science of the science
the director of science of the science track I was responsible for pulling
track I was responsible for pulling
track I was responsible for pulling together 34 hours of content over four
together 34 hours of content over four
together 34 hours of content over four days and so panicked I did what anybody
days and so panicked I did what anybody
days and so panicked I did what anybody would do I started reading journal
would do I started reading journal
would do I started reading journal articles about life science events that
articles about life science events that
articles about life science events that started going to conferences about
started going to conferences about
started going to conferences about science communication that is possible
science communication that is possible
science communication that is possible my grad school experience has warped how
my grad school experience has warped how
my grad school experience has warped how I approach these things but I learned a
I approach these things but I learned a
I approach these things but I learned a lot about how to communicate science and
lot about how to communicate science and
lot about how to communicate science and it really changed how I approached the
it really changed how I approached the
it really changed how I approached the science track I always thought of the
science track I always thought of the
science track I always thought of the science track as kind of I guess an
science track as kind of I guess an
science track as kind of I guess an informal classroom clearly people came
informal classroom clearly people came
informal classroom clearly people came to the science track to learn science
to the science track to learn science
to the science track to learn science the job at the science track then was to
the job at the science track then was to
the job at the science track then was to provide facts because that’s at the
provide facts because that’s at the
provide facts because that’s at the heart of science right it’s an
heart of science right it’s an
heart of science right it’s an accumulation of facts about the world
accumulation of facts about the world
accumulation of facts about the world around us there’s a name for that
around us there’s a name for that
around us there’s a name for that approach to science communication it’s
approach to science communication it’s
approach to science communication it’s called the deficit model of science
called the deficit model of science
called the deficit model of science communication the idea is that you have
communication the idea is that you have
communication the idea is that you have something gap between scientists and
something gap between scientists and
something gap between scientists and non-scientists non scientists are
non-scientists non scientists are
non-scientists non scientists are skeptical about science because they
skeptical about science because they
skeptical about science because they don’t understand and then they don’t
don’t understand and then they don’t
don’t understand and then they don’t understand science because they don’t
understand science because they don’t
understand science because they don’t have all of the facts therefore our job
have all of the facts therefore our job
have all of the facts therefore our job is to give people those facts and if we
is to give people those facts and if we
is to give people those facts and if we give enough facts and pile them into
give enough facts and pile them into
give enough facts and pile them into this chasm of misunderstanding this
this chasm of misunderstanding this
this chasm of misunderstanding this deficit then the non scientists
deficit then the non scientists
deficit then the non scientists over to the scientists and we will all
over to the scientists and we will all
over to the scientists and we will all love science together yay
love science together yay
love science together yay it is a view of the world that came very
it is a view of the world that came very
it is a view of the world that came very naturally to me it is also super broken
naturally to me it is also super broken
naturally to me it is also super broken quick maybe the second fact I gave you
quick maybe the second fact I gave you
quick maybe the second fact I gave you in this talk AHA I didn’t tell you there
in this talk AHA I didn’t tell you there
in this talk AHA I didn’t tell you there was going to be a quiz but I didn’t want
was going to be a quiz but I didn’t want
was going to be a quiz but I didn’t want you I used to be a teacher but jellyfish
you I used to be a teacher but jellyfish
you I used to be a teacher but jellyfish it’s kind of hard right the answer is if
it’s kind of hard right the answer is if
it’s kind of hard right the answer is if you look into the night sky you’re
you look into the night sky you’re
you look into the night sky you’re looking into the past but it’s really
looking into the past but it’s really
looking into the past but it’s really hard to remember that because all I’ve
hard to remember that because all I’ve
hard to remember that because all I’ve given you are facts I’ve given you no
given you are facts I’ve given you no
given you are facts I’ve given you no context in worst I’ve given you no
context in worst I’ve given you no
context in worst I’ve given you no motivation to care about them at all and
motivation to care about them at all and
motivation to care about them at all and it’s worse when we’re talking about
it’s worse when we’re talking about
it’s worse when we’re talking about science that people are skeptical about
science that people are skeptical about
science that people are skeptical about or uncertain about giving people just
or uncertain about giving people just
or uncertain about giving people just facts can actually drive them further
facts can actually drive them further
facts can actually drive them further away and we have years of research
away and we have years of research
away and we have years of research showing this but even with those years
showing this but even with those years
showing this but even with those years of research scientists like me just
of research scientists like me just
of research scientists like me just naturally fall back into the bottle of
naturally fall back into the bottle of
naturally fall back into the bottle of all we have to do is provide facts
all we have to do is provide facts
all we have to do is provide facts we’re kind of an academic line we went
we’re kind of an academic line we went
we’re kind of an academic line we went to school for a long time and a lot of
to school for a long time and a lot of
to school for a long time and a lot of us have taught classes we get into this
us have taught classes we get into this
us have taught classes we get into this mindset that how you communicate science
mindset that how you communicate science
mindset that how you communicate science is you exchange facts it doesn’t help
is you exchange facts it doesn’t help
is you exchange facts it doesn’t help that a lot of us view ourselves as pure
that a lot of us view ourselves as pure
that a lot of us view ourselves as pure rational actors making decisions based
rational actors making decisions based
rational actors making decisions based only on logic and facts well the truth
only on logic and facts well the truth
only on logic and facts well the truth of the matter is we’re human we make
of the matter is we’re human we make
of the matter is we’re human we make decisions based on a host of different
decisions based on a host of different
decisions based on a host of different factors only some of which have any
factors only some of which have any
factors only some of which have any connection to logic and focusing on
connection to logic and focusing on
connection to logic and focusing on facts ignores how science is a process
facts ignores how science is a process
facts ignores how science is a process the things we know today are going to be
the things we know today are going to be
the things we know today are going to be revised by what we learn tomorrow
revised by what we learn tomorrow
revised by what we learn tomorrow just ask Bluto the X planet well if
just ask Bluto the X planet well if
just ask Bluto the X planet well if we’re not going to just pile up facts
we’re not going to just pile up facts
we’re not going to just pile up facts communicate science what are our other
communicate science what are our other
communicate science what are our other options there are a number of ways of
options there are a number of ways of
options there are a number of ways of providing context and motivation when
providing context and motivation when
providing context and motivation when we’re communicating science but one of
we’re communicating science but one of
we’re communicating science but one of my favorites is storytelling from a very
my favorites is storytelling from a very
my favorites is storytelling from a very early age we learn from TV and move
early age we learn from TV and move
early age we learn from TV and move fees in books how to understand and
fees in books how to understand and
fees in books how to understand and digest stories science communicators can
digest stories science communicators can
digest stories science communicators can use these stories to persuade to inform
use these stories to persuade to inform
use these stories to persuade to inform and to engage stories are a language
and to engage stories are a language
and to engage stories are a language we’re fluent in but there’s resistance
we’re fluent in but there’s resistance
we’re fluent in but there’s resistance to storytelling within the scientific
to storytelling within the scientific
to storytelling within the scientific community I was resistant to
community I was resistant to
community I was resistant to storytelling and I think a lot of that
storytelling and I think a lot of that
storytelling and I think a lot of that comes down to when you say storytelling
comes down to when you say storytelling
comes down to when you say storytelling I hear entertainment or dumbing down the
I hear entertainment or dumbing down the
I hear entertainment or dumbing down the science or even worse lying about the
science or even worse lying about the
science or even worse lying about the science and I think that entertainment
science and I think that entertainment
science and I think that entertainment aspect is a real stumbling block it
aspect is a real stumbling block it
aspect is a real stumbling block it certainly was for me even after I got on
certainly was for me even after I got on
certainly was for me even after I got on board with the idea of telling stories
board with the idea of telling stories
board with the idea of telling stories to communicate science I still felt
to communicate science I still felt
to communicate science I still felt uneasy talking about the science track
uneasy talking about the science track
uneasy talking about the science track as entertainment earlier this year I was
as entertainment earlier this year I was
as entertainment earlier this year I was at a conference for live events I
at a conference for live events I
at a conference for live events I mentioned that’s I think I do for fight
mentioned that’s I think I do for fight
mentioned that’s I think I do for fight now I guess and I was on a panel talking
now I guess and I was on a panel talking
now I guess and I was on a panel talking about the science track we’re working on
about the science track we’re working on
about the science track we’re working on a new study to see how people’s
a new study to see how people’s
a new study to see how people’s attitudes towards science change once
attitudes towards science change once
attitudes towards science change once they’ve interacted with the science
they’ve interacted with the science
they’ve interacted with the science track so I was describing that study and
track so I was describing that study and
track so I was describing that study and then I heard the following words just
then I heard the following words just
then I heard the following words just all right out of my mouth but even if
all right out of my mouth but even if
all right out of my mouth but even if the only thing they got from the science
the only thing they got from the science
the only thing they got from the science track is mere entertainment that’s okay
track is mere entertainment that’s okay
track is mere entertainment that’s okay a friend of mine rightfully called me on
a friend of mine rightfully called me on
a friend of mine rightfully called me on that afterwards he said why did you say
that afterwards he said why did you say
that afterwards he said why did you say Mayr entertainment what’s wrong with the
Mayr entertainment what’s wrong with the
Mayr entertainment what’s wrong with the point of science entertainment being too
point of science entertainment being too
point of science entertainment being too entertaining and it really made me have
entertaining and it really made me have
entertaining and it really made me have to think about why was I so reluctant to
to think about why was I so reluctant to
to think about why was I so reluctant to embrace entertainment in science and the
embrace entertainment in science and the
embrace entertainment in science and the answer is the same reason why ultimately
answer is the same reason why ultimately
answer is the same reason why ultimately I had given up theater in graduate
I had given up theater in graduate
I had given up theater in graduate school I saw entertainment as being
school I saw entertainment as being
school I saw entertainment as being opposed to being a good scientist but it
opposed to being a good scientist but it
opposed to being a good scientist but it doesn’t have to be that way we can have
doesn’t have to be that way we can have
doesn’t have to be that way we can have science entertainment that does not do
science entertainment that does not do
science entertainment that does not do harm to science we can craft stories
harm to science we can craft stories
harm to science we can craft stories without undercutting the science at
without undercutting the science at
without undercutting the science at their heart science is a process yes but
their heart science is a process yes but
their heart science is a process yes but it is also a conversation storytelling
it is also a conversation storytelling
it is also a conversation storytelling is one tool for
is one tool for
is one tool for that conversation and entertainment is
that conversation and entertainment is
that conversation and entertainment is an invitation to take part of it for me
an invitation to take part of it for me
an invitation to take part of it for me that invitation is key two weekends ago
that invitation is key two weekends ago
that invitation is key two weekends ago we had Dragon Con and we had a panel
we had Dragon Con and we had a panel
we had Dragon Con and we had a panel with three panelists Walid Rossi a
with three panelists Walid Rossi a
with three panelists Walid Rossi a doctor Rachelle Burks dr. Daniel Lee and
doctor Rachelle Burks dr. Daniel Lee and
doctor Rachelle Burks dr. Daniel Lee and they were talking about whether
they were talking about whether
they were talking about whether something like the xenomorph the scary
something like the xenomorph the scary
something like the xenomorph the scary alien monster from the alien movies was
alien monster from the alien movies was
alien monster from the alien movies was even possible how would that acid blood
even possible how would that acid blood
even possible how would that acid blood and all of that work and could you take
and all of that work and could you take
and all of that work and could you take a regular raccoon and turn them into
a regular raccoon and turn them into
a regular raccoon and turn them into rocket racoon from the movie guardians
rocket racoon from the movie guardians
rocket racoon from the movie guardians of the galaxy very entertainment focused
of the galaxy very entertainment focused
of the galaxy very entertainment focused a lot of fun great time and afterwards a
a lot of fun great time and afterwards a
a lot of fun great time and afterwards a woman from the audience went up to the
woman from the audience went up to the
woman from the audience went up to the three of them and I overheard her saying
three of them and I overheard her saying
three of them and I overheard her saying to them I wish I had seen women like you
to them I wish I had seen women like you
to them I wish I had seen women like you talking about science like this when I
talking about science like this when I
talking about science like this when I was younger I might have stuck with it
oftentimes science can separate us and
oftentimes science can separate us and how we talk about it can push people
how we talk about it can push people
how we talk about it can push people away entertainment is my chance to bring
away entertainment is my chance to bring
away entertainment is my chance to bring people back and invite them back in with
people back and invite them back in with
people back and invite them back in with the science track I get to say I love
the science track I get to say I love
the science track I get to say I love science and we both love this movie
science and we both love this movie
science and we both love this movie let’s see how those fit together I get
let’s see how those fit together I get
let’s see how those fit together I get to show audiences that there are people
to show audiences that there are people
to show audiences that there are people like them who are into science and like
like them who are into science and like
like them who are into science and like the things that they like it’s why I’m
the things that they like it’s why I’m
the things that they like it’s why I’m excited that I get to have biologists
excited that I get to have biologists
excited that I get to have biologists come down and talk about the genetics of
come down and talk about the genetics of
come down and talk about the genetics of the Wizarding gene and Harry Potter and
the Wizarding gene and Harry Potter and
the Wizarding gene and Harry Potter and I am always here for Mayor McCheese
I am always here for Mayor McCheese
I am always here for Mayor McCheese explaining the scientific feud between
explaining the scientific feud between
explaining the scientific feud between Edison and Tesla instead of another
Edison and Tesla instead of another
Edison and Tesla instead of another science fact what I really want to do is
science fact what I really want to do is
science fact what I really want to do is give you a science suggestion embrace
give you a science suggestion embrace
give you a science suggestion embrace how stories and entertainment support
how stories and entertainment support
how stories and entertainment support science stories in entertainment connect
science stories in entertainment connect
science stories in entertainment connect us
us
us they provide the chance to interact and
they provide the chance to interact and
they provide the chance to interact and they help us remember that ultimately
they help us remember that ultimately
they help us remember that ultimately science is a human activity performed by
science is a human activity performed by
science is a human activity performed by humans and is a way of understanding not
humans and is a way of understanding not
humans and is a way of understanding not just the universe but each other
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
”
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