• Copyrights
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms
  • Shop
  • Fun Box
Biostandups | Connecting Science, Biotechnology & Healthcare
  • Home
  • Bio News
    • Bio Research
    • Bio Tech
    • Health, Food and Fitness
    • Agriculture
    • Public Health and Issues
    • Earth and Environment
    • Pharmacy
    • Women Health
  • Bio Woman
    • Face of the month
    • Raising talents
    • Voice of Women
    • WISE
  • Bio Business
    • Startup Guide
    • Entrepreneurship
  • JOB POSTINGS
    • Study at University
    • Organizations
    • Fellowships / Grants
    • Opportunities for Freshers
    • Awards/Prizes/Medals
  • Bio Protocols
    • Basic Protocols
    • Multiple Research Protocols
    • Video Protocols
    • Protocol Exchange
    • Thesis/Paper writing tools
  • Bio Events
  • About Us
    • Founding Team
    • Advisory Board
    • Partners
    • Editors
    • Contributors
    • Sponsors
    • Donate Us
    • Media Room
  • Contact us

Scientist earns money by telling tales of science – Start up “Story Collider”

biostandadmin/06 Nov, 16/1459/0
Startups

The scientists were nervous. Milling around the Rickshaw Stop and nursing pints of beer, a few dozen brainiacs were about to sit for a curated performance of personal science-based stories. Strings of lights dangled across the ceiling overhead, and one wall was draped in a red velvet curtain. The whole ambience felt much more Park Slope than Hayes Valley. Even the bartender looked like he wasn’t quite sure what exactly was going on.

The Rickshaw Stop is usually a music venue, but had been taken over on this particular Sunday night and eschewed hard rock for an evening of science storytelling, “The Story Collider.”

“It’s all about showing that science is a part of everyone’s lives,” explained “Story Collider” Artistic Director Erin Barker, while hanging out in the Rickshaw Stop’s graffiti-walled, punk-rock greenroom. “Scientists aren’t always crazy-haired white guys in a lab coat.”

“Story Collider” was founded six years ago by two physicists who wanted to humanize science by asking real scientists to tell interesting short stories onstage in bars. The concept is similar to the wildly popular programs from “The Moth,” the granddaddy of present-day hipster storytelling. Since its New York inception, “Story Collider” has grown to host monthly shows in five big cities and produces a podcast with a following in the millions.

Barker isn’t a scientist, but she mingled among them freely. The petite, deadpan New Yorker offered an air of street cred to the proceedings. After all, Barker is the first woman to win “The Moth’s” GrandSlam storytelling competition twice. She now has the full-time job of finding the right science stories to bring to an everyman audience.

“I know nothing about science, which is really one of my strengths,” Barker said, laughing.

“The Story Collider” comes to San Francisco only once or twice a year. The show on Sunday, Oct. 30, was part of the Bay Area Science Festival, a 10-day scientific extravaganza featuring all sorts of events and activities around town. It’s like a less-famous, science-y version of Sketchfest.

I asked Barker if “The Story Collider” might ever consider regular shows in San Francisco. “Eh, maybe,” she said, adding that they’ve just started producing monthly shows in Los Angeles and anyway, they’ll be back at the Rickshaw Stop next month for the American Geological Union Conference.

As Barker looked up the date of that show (it’s Dec. 15 and it’s free), the slightly nervous, slightly science-y storytellers hanging out in the greenroom agreed that geologists were the coolest scientists. “And I’ve heard,” said Barker, “that they party the hardest.”

There is indeed such a thing as a cool scientist. There are lots of them. That’s the whole mission of “The Story Collider.” Barker doesn’t really have such a tough time finding scientists with interesting stories that they can present onstage in an engaging way. “They’re more socially intelligent than they get credit for,” she said, smiling.

Disclaimer: Sunday night’s storytellers were all excellent, but not all scientists. Julie Stoller, one of the evening’s performers, founded Story Slam Oakland. Stoller told her tale of sneaking weed through SFO to deliver to her dying mother. Journalist Erika Check Hayden shared her moving account of covering the Ebola virus in Sierra Leone.

I ended up sitting next to Hayden’s mother, who told me all about her favorite political podcasts that she devours on her daily two-hour walks. Hayden’s charming, straightforward mom seemed like the type of woman who would definitely have a grown child writing about Ebola in Sierra Leone. She sat in the front row, dripping pride.

Sebastian Alvarado, however, is a real scientist, and he was really nervous. Throughout the first half of his story, Alvarado kept his arms folded across his chest and concentrated on getting through his explanation of ant DNA. But soon Alvarado began to get comfortable in front of a bar full of strangers. His hands dropped to his sides before becoming props themselves. He was a relatable genius, a cool scientist.

It felt good to be in a room filled with friendly fellow nerds, perhaps especially on a Halloween weekend when personal tales of science don’t top the city’s hottest event listings.

“On this night when you could be dressed up in costumes or watching what may be the last game of the World Series, you’re here,” Barker said from the stage. She slipped her hands into her back pockets and smiled. “We appreciate that.”

Source @ San Francisco Chronicle

Share
Trending

Indian origin teen makes magic with 3D printer in...

06 Nov, 16

Startup develops engaging, interactive way for...

06 Nov, 16

Related Posts

Bio NewsBio Tech

BACTERIA THAT EATS METAL, PROCESSES CARBON ACCIDENTALLY...

Bio NewsMicro BiologyPublic Health and Issues

Gut bacteria improve type 2 diabetes risk prediction

Health, Food and Fitness

Stem cell therapy: why we need to be suspicious about...

mm
biostandadmin

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

View more jobs >>

Face of the month - February

A career in research is always challenging more so because the techniques and technologies are changing fast. One has to keep updated about the kind of work going on globally. Securing grants for your research is however the toughest challenge. Mentoring students and solving their problems also becomes quite challenging at times. - Dr. Charu Lata

Raising Talents

The moment he granted me a seat, the news spread like anything. The principal called Mr. Sahu and almost every person laughed at me. I was a very simple girl from middle-class family. Many unwanted suggestions poured in. But I think I was destined to be here. Days went by. At the end of every year, a mining student has to go for training in mines.

Most Viewed

Bio TechCareer

Best List of Biotech Internships in India

Agriculture

Evolution of Fruits and Vegetables –...

Most Commented

Career Talks on Biotechnology and Bioinformatics

04 Jan, 17

5 biologists to receive Elsevier Foundation...

06 Sep, 16

World Health/Biotech News

[wp-rss-aggregator limit="50" pagination="false"] View more >>

News By Category

  • Agriculture (73)
  • Bio News (146)
  • Bio Tech (103)
  • Career (40)
  • Earth and Environment (101)
  • Health, Food and Fitness (125)
  • Innovation & Technology (35)
  • Interview Series (11)
  • Micro Biology (1)
  • Pharmacy (98)
  • Public Health and Issues (144)
  • Startups (61)
  • Uncategorized (3)
  • Women Health (78)
  • Women in STEM (9)
  • Women safety (1)

Archives

  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • July 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • May 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • September 2016
  • August 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016

Recent Posts

BACTERIA THAT EATS METAL, PROCESSES CARBON...

22 Jul, 20

Gut bacteria improve type 2 diabetes risk...

06 Jul, 20

Stem cell therapy: why we need to be suspicious...

24 Jun, 20

PHAR-EAST 2020

The 3rd edition of Phar-East is happening in Singapore from 31 March to 1 April 2020. It is your chance to network with over 1,000 leading experts from across Asia and gain insights about the latest trends in the pharma and biotech industry.

  • Home
  • Our Mission
  • Privacy Policy
  • Advertise with us
  • Memberships