(Posted November 5, 2019)

HUNTINGDON, Pa. – Juniata College will host actor Brian Palermo, who will present a “Science Communication Interactive Workshop,” in which the audience will use improv theater to learn how to better communicate scientific information. 

The workshop will be offered from 7-9 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 6 in Neff Lecture Hall, von Liebig Center for Science. Admission is free and open to the public. 

Palermo’s career has been nothing short of prolific, having starred in over 100 TV shows and movies, with a filmography which lists sitcoms such as Friends, Will and Grace, and The Middle, and feature films like Daddy Daycare, My Life in Ruins, and The Social Network.

Palermo has conducted workshops at colleges, companies, nonprofits, and organizations across the country—including NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. 

The actor’s website describes the workshop, “This is not improv comedy (though laughter is a by-product of the work.) We use improvisational techniques to help groups and individuals improve both their presentational and inter-personal communication skills and collaborate more effectively”

This workshop is organized by Juniata’s chapter of the American Society for Microbiology (ASM). 

“This is an incredible opportunity for anyone in the sciences and communications,” said ASM member Elke Arnesen, a junior at Juniata. “It's interdisciplinary and will help equip theatre, communication, research, and science students with the tools to make waves in their fields. Mr. Palermo is also a great resource that we are fortunate to be able to bring to Juniata, so let's show gratitude with attendance and good questions!”

To learn more about the program, visit https://www.palermoscienceimprov.com/

--Written by Jacob C. Griffin ’21— 

Contact April Feagley at feaglea@juniata.edu or (814) 641-3131 for more information.