Sci x Southwest

About

Do you like finding out about the world around you? Do you also enjoy fun?

Us too. We believe science is part of culture, and as such should be available, accessible, critiqued and generally not taken too seriously. We run events in Bristol and beyond where audiences can laugh and learn, and performers - even those without science training! - can share their specialist interests in creative ways. Hard to envisage? You can hear our previous events here.

Events

The "Know Show"

Our variety night featuring stand up, improv and projects related to science and tech.

5th February 2020, 7.30-10.00pm. Info and tickets are here.

The "Know Show"

Our variety night featuring stand up, improv and projects related to science and tech.

5th September 2019, 7.30-10.00pm. Info and tickets are here.

Knotty Knits

An evening with Dr Elisabetta Matsumoto, Georgia Institute of Technology, discussing creative crafts and research.

29th May 2019, 6.30pm. Watershed, Bristol. Tickets available here.

Workshop

Previously, we've discussed performance, scripting, and the process of turning an idea into something that exists in the world. We want to keep bringing more ideas, from fully devised performances to niggling ideas you think might be cool, to fruition.

28th February 2019, 7pm. Cafe Kino Basement, Stokes Croft (just turn up, but let us know you're coming at scixsouthwest@gmail.com).

The "Know Show"

Our first official stage show will be a variety show featuring eight talented Bristolians, ranging from first-timers to seasoned performers, sharing something tangentially related to science and tech.

24th January 2019, 7.30-10.30pm. Info and tickets are here.

Scicomm Mixer

To mark our launch, we're organising a 'meet and mingle' event at the University of Bristol Postgraduate Hub.

19th November 2018, 6-8pm. Info and tickets are here.

People

Scary Boots

By day Scary is your standard rock ‘n roll loving PhD student building 3D printers to produce shapechanging jelly. By night they perform comedy about science and other bizarrely specific topics, dabble in drag, roll around in pyjamas trying to choke their friends at Brazilian ju jitsu, and fight crime.

Will has performed, organised and hosted science comedy events across Bristol over the last 5 years, putting his MSc, general nerdery and dry, dry sense of humor to work. Because its that, or reddit.

Leah is a science-interested non-scientist and one half of the Eurekanerd! podcast. She got into science communication when her partner Will kept sending her weird science press releases and wanting to talk about them. She would like a cider please.

Hannah (on the far left) lectures in Science Communication at UWE Bristol, including on public speaking, comedy and games. She has a background in linguistics and has a PhD from an artificial intelligence lab. She can often be found down the pub shouting about digital rights, intersectional feminism and musical theatre.

Claudia is our marvellous illustrator and graphic designer! You can see her work and commissioner her at vividbiology.com

Media from Past Events

Audio from previous "Agony Auncles of Science" shows can be found here.

Contact

scixsouthwest [at] gmail.com

• Twitter
• Facebook

Frequently Asked Questions

I want to come but…

Q) I’m not a scientist and I don’t work in science.

We would PARTICULARLY like you to come. It gets lonely talking to ourselves and boring talking to people who are just like us. If there’s anything you don’t understand, it’s our fault, not yours. Please let us know and we’ll try and improve for next time.

Q) I have access needs.

Unfortunately our regular evening venue has accessibility issues. If you have an idea for a better new place please get in contact! In the meantime we’ll be doing lunchtime tasters at the University of Bristol for people who need stair-free access, travel in the evening, have caring responsibilities, or otherwise find that the Crofter’s Rights doesn’t suit. See events listing for upcoming accessible gigs.

I want to perform but...

Q) I work in [insert human facing thing here]. Is my science science enough?

Social science is science, it’s why it has science in its name. We interpret our remit very broadly, in that any material with some link to things going on outside you is probably valid. In the past, we’ve welcomed talks about sexuality studies, linguistics and technology to bring communities together. If you’re unsure, why not write to us for a chat?

Q) I am not a practicing scientist. I still have something to say about science.

That is fine and we love it.

Q) I’m not a comedian

You don’t have to be. Anything that will hold an audience’s interest for up to 10 minutes is welcome. If you need to set up for instruments, dance, special FX, just contact us and we’ll accommodate if we can.

Q) I am nervous and don’t know if I can do it.

We all had our first time once! We run training sessions to help people planning to dip a toe into the water to plan that experience. Check out when they are on here, or write to us about your ideas and if there’s interest we’ll schedule something.

Elements

i = 0;

while (!deck.isInOrder()) {
    print 'Iteration ' + i;
    deck.shuffle();
    i++;
}

print 'It took ' + i + ' iterations to sort the deck.';