Stand-up Science
Researcher's Night Patras 2020 — Science Reactors
The Science Reactors participate online in the Patras Researchers' Night with a new Stand up Science show, on Wednesday 25/11 at 2030¨.
For us, as most of you will remember, Researchers' Night is a special night because that's where (in 2014) we took our first hesitant steps. Specifically at the event held at the National Hellenic Research Foundation.
And afterwards, certainly, we walked and keep walking more steadily with humour, passion but mainly with our unconventional style in highlighting another face of Science:
science differently, science on stage!
The online show loses some of the liveliness and interaction with the audience, but it gives us the opportunity to present members who are abroad (Antonia Karamalegkou and Giannis Kontogiannis) and for everyone to «dress» their presentations aptly with digital findings.
We're waiting for you to connect with us... We'll be back with the link to the show.
The Science Reactors in their 2nd online Stand up Science show, as part of the event series “Researcher's Night 2020” on Wednesday 25 November, at 20:30
Do scientists have a sense of humour?
Can we grasp simple scientific topics with a smile?
How can we help science reach out to the world?
The Science Reactors team gives its own answers to these questions by bringing science onto the stage!
The idea belongs to Eleni Grammatikopoulou, 30 years devoted with passion to Science Communication! From the “SCIENCE SOCIETY” programme of the National Hellenic Research Foundation to today's science festivals and major events, she has made her own mark with a single goal: opening up knowledge to the general public in a completely unconventional way. At the Athens Science Festival 18 she was awarded the Science Communication Award – EPI 2, established by SciCo.
In 2014 she wanted to reveal another face of science by creating the subversive Science Reactors team. Young, gifted scientists, through Stand up Science performances (following in the footsteps of stand-up comedy) and Science on stage (science theatre), marry humour with Science and Art. Since then the team has taken part in all the science festivals, TEDx, Researcher's Nights, etc., attracting enthusiastic comments and many devoted fans. Gifted in Science Communication but above all passionate about science itself, the Science Reactors take the stage, turning difficult scientific topics into understandable everyday stories. And above all, stories full of humour! There is a corresponding team in Thessaloniki too. Directed by Kostas Vrettos. As part of this year's “Researcher's Night” events organised by the city of Patras, the Science Reactors (Ermis Zacharopoulos – computer scientist, Kostas Peristeris – doctor/gynaecologist, Antonia Karamolegkou – linguist, Giannis Kontogiannis – astrophysicist and Dimitris Papageorgiou – physicist) give their second online Stand up science show. The first didn't go badly at all, which is why we dare to repeat it!!! We'll miss the interaction and our live communication with the audience, key elements of Stand up Science, but somehow we'll have to adapt to the new reality. In an accessible and delightful way they will present various topical scientific
topics with humour as their only tool! …..Stories of everyday madness will be revealed through the eyes of a computer whiz, the differences between the male and female brain will be ‘interpreted’ without prejudice (!), they will talk to us about quantum computers (what they are, how they work) and will wonder whether the classics have an expiry date after all? Our solar physicist, looking at the closest star to Earth – the Sun – straight in the eye, will explain what he actually does, what solar physics is and why on earth we care? Finally, those of you who struggle with sex need only turn to the unique lives of animals! The solution is there…
Ermis Zacharopoulos
A few words to introduce the five Science Reactors of the Stand up Science show
(in alphabetical order)
Ermis Zacharopoulos: that's me, and I'm a computer scientist. Since I was little I talked non-stop; even before I learned words I was mumbling nonsense. It never stopped, but luckily for the people who know me I found various outlets so I wouldn't wear them out. I've done a tour through the Hellenic Parliament's Teen Parliament, the Famelab final (this year I even won first prize), the AUEB Theatre Group, the Athens Science Festival, Pint of Science and the Athens Digital Arts Festival, always talking non-stop. Luckily I have robotaki.gr to
My name is Antonia Karamolegkou and I've studied Linguistics. But I've loved computers since I was little. I started Data Science and Programming courses without any difficulty. And a year ago I left for a master's in Sweden. A great love of mine is also talking a lot, and I like telling plenty of jokes too (most of them are cold, though). I never like standing still; I'll always be reading something new to keep busy. I have a soft spot for Science Reactors, as they promote science and communication. Writing this text, a lot of rhyming piled up, but I don't like monotony.
Giannis Kontogiannis is a physicist, with a master's in Astrophysics and a PhD in solar physics. At the moment he is doing postdoctoral research on the small and large phenomena of the solar atmosphere. He avoids calling himself a solar physicist, though, so he won't be confused with a water heater, so he settles for astrophysicist, which, to be fair, is more or less the same thing but sounds more impressive. He also avoids saying that for years he's been doing experiments on children and general audiences, because it sounds a bit odd and then he has to clarify that they're experiment demonstrations (which also sounds a bit odd). So, in the end, he says he's been working professionally in science communication for the last decade, writing articles and designing educational activities and demonstrations. He's not afraid to ruffle his own image. If he doesn't get the necessary buzz by saying he's an astrophysicist, he goes on to say he's a musician. In his free time he plays
guitar and sings, while the rest of the time he simply listens to music and plans his
future live appearances
Dimitris Papageorgiou: You ask: What has two legs, an orange background and doesn't know where to start when introducing himself? I answer: I'm finishing my Physics degree at Athens, but in my free time I don't know what to do first. The result is that I scatter myself by learning unrelated things like music, painting, programming, kung fu and ancient drama. In the past, I've been a TEDx speaker as well as a volunteer teacher in China. Now, I'm enlisting with the Science Reactors to communicate everything I find fascinating, funny, even disgusting in science... I especially love instant noodles, origami, plasma globes and the lists of films I say I'll watch someday. They've said about me: "Occasionally misspells, but luckily you'll only hear him talking" - NY Times "an excellent young man" - My grandmother
Perhaps only Konstantinos Peristeris, a well-known public speaker
of Athens, but also a practising gynaecologist, could bring
the magic of science and life so enjoyably close
to us. With stand-up, magic and humour, the "eccentric" doctor of the
Science Reactors gives lessons in laughter to all the
"patients" of science!!