Tuesday, June 30, 2026
Science

Did you hear the one about scientists telling jokes? Not many did, according to a study of humor at conferences

To engage audiences and help keep their attention, many public speakers sprinkle their speeches with a little humor. It's a useful tool, but something that scientists rarely use, according to a report into humor at science conferences published in Proceedings of the Royal Society B. And when jokes a...

Did you hear the one about scientists telling jokes? Not many did, according to a study of humor at conferences
Image: Phys.org
To engage audiences and help keep their attention, many public speakers sprinkle their speeches with a little humor. It's a useful tool, but something that scientists rarely use, according to a report into humor at science conferences published in Proceedings of the Royal Society B. And when jokes are told, they often fall flat, with most attempts earning only polite chuckles.

Originally published at Phys.org

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