STEMprov Improv for Science & Technology
Helping scientists build collaboration, creativity, and confidence through improvisation. #
The Opportunity #
Scientists are trained to analyze evidence, solve complex problems, and communicate technical ideas.
But many receive little support in developing the relational skills that make collaboration possible.
How do we listen deeply?
How do we build on one another's ideas?
How do we navigate uncertainty without shutting down creativity?
How do we create environments where everyone feels comfortable contributing?
These aren't simply communication skills. They're the foundation of healthy teams, effective leadership, and meaningful public engagement.
How We Got There #
I founded STEMprov to explore a simple question:
What if improvisational theatre could help scientists become better collaborators?
Since 2018, I've designed and facilitated workshops for universities, scientific societies, conferences, and community organizations while developing new ways to translate theatre practices into professional learning.
Rather than teaching improvisation as performance, STEMprov uses play as a way to help participants practice the everyday habits that strengthen research teams, classrooms, organizations, and communities.
Practice collaboration through play #
Every activity is designed to help participants experience collaboration rather than simply talk about it.
Through collaborative games, storytelling exercises, and structured reflection, participants practice skills they can immediately apply in research, teaching, leadership, and public engagement.
Participants learn to:
- Listen deeply
- Build on one another's ideas
- Embrace uncertainty
- Support creative risk-taking
- Tell more engaging stories
- Create psychological safety
No theatre experience is required.
Build inclusive team cultures #
One of STEMprov's core workshops explores how improvisation can help teams create more inclusive and collaborative environments.
Participants examine how norms around expertise, perfectionism, and objectivity shape STEM culture while practicing behaviors that foster curiosity, belonging, and shared leadership.
Rather than discussing inclusion abstractly, participants experience it together through play.
Create communities of practice #
Beyond conference workshops, I developed and taught a six-week public STEMprov course at Fallout Theater in Austin.
Meeting weekly allowed participants to move beyond one-off skill building and develop lasting habits through repeated practice, reflection, and community.
The course became an ongoing laboratory for experimenting with new facilitation techniques that continue to shape my workshops today.
Outcomes #
Since its founding, STEMprov has reached scientists, engineers, educators, and science communicators through conference workshops, university trainings, invited talks, and community courses.
Organizations I've partnered with include:
- National Park Service
- The University of Texas at Austin
- Texas A&M University
- Public Communication of Science and Technology (PCST)
- Inclusive SciComm Symposium
- Reclaiming STEM Institute
- Transmitting Science
- Michigan State University Museum
More importantly, STEMprov became the foundation for my facilitation philosophy.
Many of the approaches I now use in leadership development, strategic planning, science communication, and organizational retreats were first developed, tested, and refined through STEMprov workshops.
Gallery #
Looking for something similar? #
Whether you're planning a department retreat, conference session, leadership program, or team workshop, I'd love to help your group build stronger collaboration through participatory learning.