I feared presenting my research to an audience—until I tried stand-up comedy

From ScienceMag:

“Good afternoon, everyone. Glad you all could join me today. I am excited to share my research on …” Uh-oh. “I am excited to share my research on …” Oh no! No! No! “… my research on …” Why is this happening to me? My knees were buckling; my throat felt drier with every second. It was the annual seminar at my department, where all Ph.D. students had to present their research progress. I looked around the lecture hall and saw 50 pairs of keen eyes staring at me, anticipating my next words. I was certainly not glad they had joined me, nor excited to be speaking.

Although I felt confident at my work bench and comfortable discussing my research with my mentor and lab mates, my introvert nature silenced me when I faced a larger, unfamiliar audience. Prior to graduate school, I had no experience in public speaking, and now the fear overwhelmed me. But with another seminar just a couple of months away and more public speaking ahead, I refused to let my nerves hold me back again.

I took a drastic step outside my comfort zone to sign up for an open mic event at a local stand-up comedy club in Bengaluru, India. I’d always admired the confidence of stand-up comedians, and I thought the jovial atmosphere might allow a bit more room for error.

Although my jokes did not receive thunderous applause, I was surprised to find I enjoyed my time on stage. And I felt I could do better. I approached Sania, a brilliant comic whose wit and eloquence made her the highlight of the evening. Sania offered three invaluable tips.

“Attend more open mic events,” she advised. “Watch more comics perform.” Though she meant to help me succeed as a comedian, her suggestion helped me improve my upcoming research presentation. For the next few months, I attended numerous seminars at my institute, observing how skilled orators presented their stories and conveyed complex scientific data through easily digested takeaways.

Sania’s next piece of advice was to write and rewrite a script. Although some speakers can improvise, I found value in preparation. The script was a bridge from my cluttered thoughts to spoken words. It helped me maintain a logical flow, avoid rambling, and refine my timing. Most important, having a clear road map reduced my anxiety.

Sania saved her most valuable advice for last: Practice! With my script in hand, I began to rehearse my research presentation tirelessly. Alone, with colleagues, and even with unsuspecting visitors—every audience counted. I practiced every pause and hand gesture. Initially, it felt forced and unnatural. However, with each iteration, my presentation became more fluid and organic. Slowly but surely, my words morphed into muscle memory.

When the time came for my next research presentation, the difference was clear. My confidence, eloquence, and presentation skills had improved dramatically. I finished to applause rather than an awkward silence.

I took a drastic step outside my comfort zone to sign up for an open mic event.

• Avraneel Paul
• University of Alabama at Birmingham

Unexpectedly, this process benefited my research. I began to view science through a storyteller’s lens. Instead of merely presenting the results of my experiments, I used my data set to tell a story. The genes and proteins I studied became enigmatic characters in an unfolding drama. I sought to identify gaps in the narrative of my research and design my experiments to advance the story.

I have continued to sharpen my public speaking skills on various stages and now share my research with confidence. But I’ll always be grateful for that pivotal moment of stage paralysis—when I failed to convey my findings despite months of painstaking research. That experience taught me that generating data is only part of doing science. Effective communication is just as important.

After coming to the United States for a postdoc, I joined Toastmasters, a nonprofit that aims to help people master public speaking, and I’m now the president of my university’s chapter. I share Sania’s advice to prepare and practice with researchers who attend our meetings. I also tell them data points and graphs aren’t just numbers and lines—they tell stories. Realizing that is the key to sharing them with the world.

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