LHComedy: UK - The creation of a sustainable interactive comedy show that guides the audience through the scientific methodology.

2013年，欧洲核子研究中心举办了首个单口喜剧活动“LHComedy: Dark后的欧洲核子研究中心”，欧洲核子研究中心下属的科学家和专业的科学传播者走上舞台，通过单口喜剧解释高水平的研究。这次活动非常成功，吸引了300名欧洲核子研究中心日内瓦本地观众和1万名国际在线观众（其中5000名来自英国），并得到了国际媒体的报道。我们现在打算通过创建一个现场互动喜剧节目LHComedy: UK来扩展LHComedy在英国的业务，旨在让GCSE学生、老师、家长和普通成人观众了解科学方法和前沿研究。该节目有几个主要目的：1)介绍科学方法许多形式的科学宣传集中于解释高层次科学的各个方面，但很少解释科学过程本身。英国政府的研究表明，大约三分之一的公众说他们不理解假设检验、分析和同行评审的科学方法[http://tinyurl.com/o6r4dvj]]。这是阻碍公众参与科学的一个重大障碍。此外，英国关键阶段3 （GCSE）考试委员会的物理规范现在包括一个原则，重点是教学生“科学是如何工作的”[http://tinyurl.com/ky8mmd4]]。使用传统方法教授这些规范既困难又乏味，需要一种更具交互性的方法。我们打算向观众介绍科学的方法论，并让他们参与到令人兴奋和有趣的活动中，让他们“边做边学”，并指导每场演出的结果。如果GCSE学生要继续坚持学习物理，理解科学方法是必不可少的。2)允许CERN下属的科学家（和专业的科学传播者）直接与观众互动。像Brian Cox、Dara O'Brien这样的传播者和《无限猴笼》这样的节目的受欢迎程度和影响表明，让大量的人口参与科学意味着让展示科学信息的人变得社交化、平易近人和相关。将科学与喜剧相结合，并允许活跃的欧洲核子研究中心下属的科学研究人员和专业的科学传播者与观众直接互动，不仅创造了兴奋感，为传播材料提供了重要的庄严，而且还抵消了对物理学家的负面刻板印象，例如通过展示女性物理学榜样。我们也可以挑战《生活大爆炸》中认为物理学家是反社会的刻板印象。结合使科学更相关，有趣和吸引人，这有助于吸引下一代从事科学研究的职业道路（在关键的GCSE阶段）。体验式学习对于在表现不佳的学校里学习的学生来说也特别有效。此外，该项目还要求欧洲核子研究中心下属的研究人员以一种引人入胜和有趣的方式解释他们的工作和生活方式。这提高了他们的沟通技巧，并提供了培训的元素。LHComedy项目在活跃的CERN科学家和专业的科学传播者/喜剧演员之间创造了一个持续的双向讨论。我们的目标是继续这种伙伴关系，以便双方能够提出和讨论传播科学信息的新方法。拟议的新节目的结构（见下面几节）也可以根据任何其他科学的进展来重新解释科学方法。我们希望制作一个能激发衍生表演的节目。4)影响评估有几种媒介试图用喜剧来吸引观众了解高水平的科学。然而，几乎没有证据表明它的有效性。我们将收集全面的在线和现场观众反馈，以帮助填补现有文献中的空白。

In 2013, CERN's first ever stand-up comedy event, LHComedy: CERN after Dark, saw CERN affiliated scientists and professional science communicators take to the stage to explain high-level research through stand-up. The event was extremely successful and engaged a live audience of 300 extra-CERN Geneva locals, 10,000 international online viewers (5,000 from UK) and was covered by international media outlets. We now intend to expand the LHComedy vehicle in the UK through the creation of a live, interactive comedy show, LHComedy: UK, aimed at exposing GCSE student/teacher/parent and general public adult audiences to the scientific method and cutting edge research. The show has several key aims:1) Introduce the scientific methodology Many forms of scientific outreach concentrate on explaining aspects of high level science, but few explain the scientific process itself. UK Government research shows that approximately a third of the general public say they do not understand the scientific methodology of hypothesis testing, analysis and peer review [http://tinyurl.com/o6r4dvj]. This is a significant barrier preventing the general public from engaging with science. In addition, the UK Key Stage 3 (GCSE) exam board physics specifications now include a principle focus on teaching students "how science works" [http://tinyurl.com/ky8mmd4]. These specifications can be difficult and tedious to teach using traditional methods and require a more interactive approach. We intend to introduce audiences to the scientific methodology and engage them with activities that are exciting and amusing, allowing them to "learn by doing" and guide the outcome of each show. Understanding the scientific method is essential if GCSE students are going to continue to persevere with physics.2) Allow CERN affiliated scientists (and professional science communicators) to interact directly with audiencesThe popularity and impact of communicators like Brian Cox, Dara O'Brien and shows such as The Infinite Monkey Cage indicate that getting large demographics to engage with science means making the people presenting the scientific information sociable, approachable and relatable. Combining science and comedy, and allowing active CERN affiliated scientific researchers and professional scientific communicators to interact directly with audiences, not only creates excitement and offers significant gravitas to disseminated material, but also counteracts the negative stereotypes of physicists e.g. by presenting female physics role models. We can also challenge the "Big Bang Theory" stereotype of physicists as anti-social. Combined with making science more relevant, fun and appealing, this helps to draw the next generation to career paths in scientific research (at the pivotal GCSE stage). Experiential learning is also particularly effective for engaging students in under-performing schools.In addition, the project challenges CERN affiliated researchers to explain their work and lifestyle in an engaging and entertaining manner. This improves their communication skills and provides an element of training.3) Legacy and sustainabilityThe LHComedy project has created an on-going two way discussion between active CERN scientists and professional scientific communicators/comedians. We aim to continue this partnership so that novel ways of disseminating scientific information can be suggested and discussed by both sides. The structure of the proposed new show (see following sections) can also be repurposed to explain the scientific method with reference to advances in any other science. We hope to produce a show that inspires spin off performances. 4) Impact assessmentSeveral vehicles have attempted to use comedy to engage audiences with high-level science. However, there is little evidence as to its efficacy. We will collect thorough online and live audience feedback to help fill the gaps in the existing literature.