Connecting Science and Comedy: Letonia Copeland-Hardin’s Innovative Approach

Letonia Copeland-Hardin blends research and comedy in her work. At the University of Chicago, she studies the connection between pollutants and cancer. Her other career involves making people laugh on stage. She uses these skills to build trust with communities.

Copeland-Hardin, with colleagues Myeshia Shelby and Kelsie Huff, created “Reading and Working the Room.” This workshop helps scientists use performance skills to engage better with their research communities. A passion for comedy since childhood, she only pursued it seriously in 2019 after years as a researcher. “I started comedy to cope with stress and isolation,” said Copeland-Hardin. The program shows how comedy and research intersect.

A core part of Copeland-Hardin’s work involves collaborating with communities. She highlights the need to work with, not on, communities. Trust-building is crucial, especially in areas that suffered from past research practices. Known as LT on stage, she excels at connecting with audiences. She performed at The Lincoln Lodge’s Future of Comedy Festival. Starting with a simple question about Froot Loops, she engaged her audience by transforming a monologue into a dialogue.

Her comedy sets, which sometimes involve scientific subjects, showcase her ability to explain complex topics in accessible ways. This skill helps audiences relate and follow along, establishing rapport. Her curriculum aims to teach researchers how to do the same.

The curriculum doesn’t insist on humor in research discussions. Instead, it focuses on building trust and engagement using stage techniques. This approach can help mend trust gaps in scientific communication, leading to better data collection. Copeland-Hardin points out that scientists often lack skills to speak to the public. Her curriculum is freely accessible online for anyone interested.

With funding from Research!America, the program tackles a significant gap in public engagement training. As Copeland-Hardin states, “As scientists, it is our responsibility to share our information with the public.” Her dual career stems from a desire to connect, be it with audiences, communities, or even fruit flies.