Dance your PhD | John Bohannon & Black Label Movement | TEDxBrussels

Summary

In this engaging talk, the speaker humorously addresses the economic impact of poor PowerPoint presentations, costing an estimated 250 million dollars daily. They advocate for a creative solution: replacing PowerPoint with dance to convey complex ideas, inspired by the 'Dance Your PhD' contest. The speaker highlights the effectiveness of dance in simplifying scientific concepts and proposes dancers as a more engaging and potentially cost-effective alternative to traditional presentations, suggesting a shift in how we communicate complex information.

Takeaways

• 🌡️ The script discusses a method using lasers to cool matter down to near absolute zero, which is counterintuitive as light typically heats objects.
• 🎭 The speaker suggests that complex scientific ideas could be better communicated through dance rather than traditional methods like PowerPoint presentations.
• 🏫 The concept of 'Dance Your PhD' is introduced, where scientists explain their research through dance, making it more accessible and understandable.
• 🧠 The speaker, a Molecular Biologist with a PhD, admits to struggling with understanding complex scientific concepts despite her educational background.
• 💃 The University of Minnesota's biomedical engineer, David Odde, is highlighted for collaborating with dancers to study cellular movement, demonstrating the practical application of dance in scientific research.
• 🌌 Superfluids, a state of matter where atoms lose individual identity and exhibit bizarre properties, are mentioned as an example of scientific phenomena that defy common intuition.
• 💸 The economic impact of bad PowerPoint presentations is critiqued, with an estimated cost to the global economy of 250 million dollars per day.
• 🗣️ The speaker humorously proposes replacing PowerPoint with dance as a means to save money and improve communication, especially in explaining complex economic and political issues.
• 🎨 The potential negative consequences of cutting public funding for the arts are discussed, including increased unemployment and societal issues.
• 🌟 The speaker concludes with a vision of a future where the human form in motion, such as dance, is valued for its own sake beyond its utility in communication.

Q & A

What is the main idea proposed by the speaker to address the financial burden?

The speaker proposes using dance as a means of communication instead of PowerPoint presentations to save money and improve the effectiveness of conveying complex ideas.

How does the speaker's physicist friend at MIT explain the cooling effect of lasers?

The physicist explains that by using lasers with precisely tuned frequencies, atoms can absorb photons and slow down, eventually cooling to the point where they enter a new state of matter known as a superfluid.

What are the unusual properties of superfluids mentioned in the script?

Superfluids have the ability to slow photons down to 60 km/h and flow with no viscosity or friction, which allows them to creep up the inside wall of a container and flow over the top.

What is the 'Dance Your PhD' contest mentioned by the speaker?

The 'Dance Your PhD' contest is an initiative where scientists explain their research through dance instead of using traditional verbal or written explanations.

Why does the speaker believe that bad PowerPoint presentations are a threat to the global economy?

The speaker believes that bad PowerPoint presentations waste time and resources, with an estimated drain of 250 million dollars per day, contributing to a significant annual waste.

How does the speaker relate the concept of 'Dance Your PhD' to the broader idea of using dance for communication?

The speaker suggests that the success of 'Dance Your PhD' shows that dance can effectively communicate complex scientific concepts, and this approach could be expanded to explain other complex problems beyond academic research.

What is the role of dancers in David Odde's research at the University of Minnesota?

Dancers collaborate with David Odde, a biomedical engineer, to study how cells move by changing their shape, which helps him build and test mathematical models of cellular motion.

What is the economic estimate provided by the speaker regarding the cost of PowerPoint presentations?

The speaker estimates that the cost of PowerPoint presentations is around 250 million dollars per day, leading to an annual waste of about a hundred billion dollars.

How does the speaker propose to utilize artists in the absence of public funding for the arts?

The speaker proposes to use artists, specifically dancers, as a replacement for PowerPoint presentations to explain complex problems and save money.

What is the speaker's vision for the future regarding the use of dance in communication?

The speaker envisions a future where dance might become an even more powerful tool of persuasion than PowerPoint, and where people can enjoy the human form in motion as a luxury.

Outlines

00:00

🔬 The Fascination of Superfluids and the Power of Dance

The speaker begins by addressing the audience about the challenging economic times and introduces a unique idea to alleviate financial stress. The concept was inspired by a discussion with a physicist about an experiment that uses lasers to cool matter, which defies the common understanding that light heats objects. The speaker explains the properties of light and lasers, leading to the explanation of how atoms can be cooled to near absolute zero, resulting in the formation of superfluids. These superfluids exhibit bizarre properties, such as allowing light to slow down and flowing without viscosity. The speaker then transitions to the idea of expressing complex scientific ideas through dance, referencing the 'Dance Your PhD' contest, which encourages scientists to convey their research through dance. The speaker suggests that dance can make science more accessible and concludes by proposing that dancers could replace PowerPoint presentations, which are often inefficient and a drain on the economy, to better communicate complex ideas.

05:02

💃 The Economic Impact of PowerPoint and the Potential of Dance

In the second paragraph, the speaker humorously points out the economic cost of bad PowerPoint presentations, estimating a daily loss of 250 million dollars due to wasted time. The speaker criticizes PowerPoint for creating illusions of competence and understanding, which can lead to poor decision-making, exemplified by the significant national debt. The speaker then satirically suggests cutting public funding for the arts, including the National Endowment for the Arts, to save money, but highlights the potential negative consequences of such actions. The speaker proposes a creative solution to the economic problem by advocating for the use of dancers to explain complex issues instead of PowerPoint, suggesting that this could be a more effective and engaging method of communication. The speaker envisions a future where dance could replace PowerPoint as a tool for persuasion, but also hopes that by then, the financial crisis would be resolved, and people could enjoy dance for its artistic value.

Keywords

💡Photons

Photons are elementary particles that are the quantum of the electromagnetic field including electromagnetic radiation such as light. In the video, photons are mentioned as the particles that make up light, which is used to explain why we can see the speaker. The script also contrasts the random movement of room photons with the synchronized photons of a laser, highlighting the unique properties of laser light that can be used for precise applications like cooling atoms.

💡Laser

A laser is a device that emits light through a process of optical amplification based on the stimulated emission of photons. The video discusses how lasers are different from regular light because their photons are synchronized, which allows for precise control and applications such as surgery and data storage. The script also describes a laser cooling experiment where atoms are slowed down by absorbing photons from a laser tuned to the right frequency.

💡Superfluid

A superfluid is a state of matter characterized by zero viscosity, which allows it to flow without friction. The video describes how atoms, when cooled to extremely low temperatures, can enter this state and exhibit bizarre properties. For instance, the script mentions that light can be slowed down within a superfluid and that it flows without viscosity, which is a key concept in the discussion of the unusual properties of matter at near absolute zero temperatures.

💡Quantum World

The quantum world refers to the realm of physics where quantum mechanics governs the behavior of particles at the atomic and subatomic levels. In the video, the transition of atoms into a superfluid state is described as a move into the quantum world, where classical physics no longer applies, and the atoms lose their individual identity, exhibiting 'spooky' properties that defy everyday experience.

💡Dance Your PhD

Dance Your PhD is a contest mentioned in the video where scientists explain their research through dance instead of using words. This concept is used to illustrate an alternative method of communication that can make complex scientific ideas more accessible. The video suggests that dance can be a powerful tool for conveying information in a way that traditional presentations like PowerPoint might not.

💡PowerPoint

PowerPoint is a widely used presentation software that allows users to create slideshows with text, graphics, and other objects. The video criticizes PowerPoint presentations as being a drain on the global economy due to their potential to waste time and resources. The speaker humorously proposes replacing PowerPoint with dance as a more effective and engaging form of communication.

💡National Endowment for the Arts

The National Endowment for the Arts is a public agency in the United States that supports artistic excellence, creativity, and innovation for the benefit of all Americans. In the video, the speaker satirically suggests cutting its budget as a cost-saving measure, but then points out the potential negative consequences of eliminating public funding for the arts, highlighting the importance of art in society.

💡David Odde

David Odde is a biomedical engineer at the University of Minnesota mentioned in the video. He collaborates with dancers to study cell movement, using their movements as inspiration for mathematical models of how cells change shape in response to chemical signals. This example from the script illustrates the practical application of dance in scientific research and the innovative ways in which art and science can intersect.

💡Public Funding for the Arts

Public funding for the arts refers to government support for artistic endeavors, which can include grants, subsidies, or other forms of financial assistance. The video discusses the potential consequences of cutting such funding, suggesting that it could lead to an increase in unemployment and social issues. The speaker uses this as a backdrop to propose a creative solution involving dancers as an alternative to PowerPoint.

💡Persuasive Technology

Persuasive technology refers to any interactive computing system designed to change people's attitudes or behaviors. In the video, the speaker humorously speculates about a future technology that could be more persuasive than PowerPoint, suggesting that it might make dancers unnecessary as communicators. This concept is used to envision a future where new forms of communication could emerge, but also to emphasize the current value of dance as a means of expression.

Highlights

Introduction of a modest proposal to ease financial burdens by leveraging the power of dance.

Anecdote about a physicist's struggle to explain the cooling effect of lasers on matter.

Description of how light and lasers differ in their interaction with matter, leading to cooling effects.

Explanation of how atoms can be cooled to approach absolute zero using precisely tuned lasers.

Introduction of the concept of superfluids and their bizarre properties.

Superfluids' ability to slow photons down and their lack of viscosity or friction.

The fragility of superfluids and their sensitivity to temperature changes.

The pleasure of science in defying intuition through experimentation.

The challenge of communicating complex scientific ideas effectively.

The idea of using dance as a medium to explain scientific research, leading to the 'Dance Your PhD' contest.

Examples of scientists working with dancers to understand and explain complex phenomena.

The economic impact of bad PowerPoint presentations and their contribution to wasted time and resources.

Critique of PowerPoint's ability to create illusions of competence and understanding.

Proposal to replace PowerPoint with dance as a means of communication in professional settings.

Humorously suggesting the use of dancers to explain complex political and economic decisions.

Envisioning a future where dance might replace PowerPoint as a tool for persuasion.

The potential for dance to become an affordable luxury once the financial crisis is overcome.

Transcripts

Transcriber: Anna Trela Reviewer: Denise RQ

Good afternoon. As you are all aware, we face difficult economic times.

I come to you with a modest proposal for easing the financial burden.

This idea came to me while talking to a physicist friend of mine at MIT.

He was struggling to explain something to me.

A beautiful experiment, that uses lasers to cool down matter.

He confused me from the very start,

because light does not cool things down.

It makes it hotter. It is happening right now.

The reason that you can see me standing here

is because this room is filled with more than one hundered quintillion photons.

And they are moving randomly through the space, near the speed of light.

All of them are different colours.

They are rippling with different frequencies.

And they are bouncing off every surface, including me.

Some of those are flying directly into your eyes,

and that is why your brain is forming an image of me standing here.

Now, laser is different.

It also uses photons,

but they are all synchronized.

If you focus them into a beam

what you have is an incredibly useful tool!

The control of the laser is so precise,

that you can peform surgery inside of an eye.

You can use it to store massive amounts of data,

and you can use it for this beautiful experiment,

that my friend was struggling to explain.

First, you trap atoms in a special bottle, that uses electromagnetic fields

to isolate the atoms from the noise of the environment.

And the atoms themselves are quite violent,

but if you fire lasers

that are precisely tuned to the right frequency,

an atom will briefly absorb those photons and tend to slow down.

Little by little it gets colder until eventually it approaches absolute zero.

Now, if you use the right kind of atoms and you get them cold enough,

something truly bizarre happens.

It's no longer a solid, a liquid or a gas,

it enters a new state of matter, called a superfluid.

The atoms lose their individual identity,

and the rules from the quantum world take over.

And that's what gives superfluid such spooky properties.

For example, if you shine light through a superfluid,

it is able to slow photons down to 60 km/h.

Another spooky property is that it flows with absolutely no viscosity or friction,

so if you were to take the lid of that bottle it won't stay inside.

A thin film will creep up the inside wall, flow over the top

and right out to the outside.

Now, of course, at the moment that it does at the outside environment

and its temperature rises by even a fraction of a degree,

it immediately turns back into normal matter.

Superfluids are one of the most fragile things we've ever discovered.

And this is the great pleasure of science,

the defeat of our intuition through experimentation.

But the experiment is not the end of the story,

because you still have to transmit that knowlege to other people.

I have a PhD in Molecular Biology.

I still barely understand what most scientists are talking about.

So, as my friend was trying to explain that experiment,

it seemed like, the more he said, the less I understood.

Because, if you're trying to give someone the big picture of a complex idea,

to really capture its essence, the fewer words you'd use, the better.

In fact the ideal may be to use no words at all.

I remember thinking

"My friend could have explained that entire experiment with a dance."

Of course, there never seem to be any dancers around when you need them.

Now, the idea is not as crazy as it sounds.

I started a contest four years ago called "Dance Your PhD".

Instead of explaining the research with words, scientists have to explain it with dance.

Suprisingly, it seems to work.

Dance really can make science easier to understand.

But don't take my word for it.

Go on the internet and search for "Dance Your PhD".

There are hundreds of dancing scientists waiting for you.

The most suprising thing that I 've learnt while running the contest,

is that some scientists are now working directly with dancers on their research.

For example, at the University of Minnesota there is a biomedical engineer

named David Odde, and he works with dancers to study how cells move.

They do it by changing their shape.

When a chemical signal washes up on one side

it triggers the cell to expand its shape on that side,

because the cell is constantly touching and tugging at the environment.

So, that allows cells to ooze along in the right directions.

But what seems so slow and graceful from the outside is really more like chaos inside.

Because cells control their shape with a skeleton of rigid protein fibres.

And those fibres are constantly falling apart.

But just as quickly as they explode, more proteins attach to their ends and grow them longer.

So it's constanlty changing, just to remain exactly the same.

David builds mathematical models of this, and then he tests those in a lab,

but before he does that, he works with dancers to figure out

what kinds of models to build in the first place.

It is basically efficient brainstorming.

And when I visited David to learn about his research,

he used dancers to explain it to me rather than the usual method, PowerPoint.

And this brings me to my modest proposal.

I think that bad PowerPoint presentations are a serious threat to the global economy.

(Laughter)

(Applause)

It does depend on how you measure it, of course,

but one estimate has put the drain at 250 million dollars per day.

Now that assumes half hour presentation for an average audience of four people

with salaries of 35.000 dollars.

And it conservatively assumes that about a quarter of the presentations are complete waste of time.

And given that, there are some, apparently, 30 million PowerPoint presentations

created every day, that would indeed add up to an annual waste of a hundred billion dollars.

Of course that's just the time we're losing sitting through presentations.

There are other costs.

Because PowerPoint is a tool, and like any tool, it can and will be abused.

To borrow a concept from my country's CIA,

it helps you to soften up your audience,

it distracts them with pretty pictures, irrelevant data.

It allows you to create the illusion of competence,

the illusion of simplicity, and most destructively,

the illusion of understanding.

So now my country is 15 trillion dollars in debt.

Our leaders are working tirelessly to try and find ways to save money.

One idea is to drastically reduce public support for the Arts.

For example, our National Endowment for the Arts, with its 150 million dollar budget.

Slashing that programme would immediately reduce the national debt by about 0.011%.

One certainly cannot argue with those numbers.

However, once we eliminate public funding for the Arts, there will be some drawbacks.

The artists on the street will swell the ranks of the unemployed.

Many will turn to drug abuse and prostitution,

and that will inevitably lower propery values in urban neighbourhoods.

All of this could wipe out the savings we are hoping to make in the first place.

I shall now therefore humbly propose my own thoughts,

which I hope will not be liable to the least objection.

Once we eliminate public funding for the artists, let's put them back to work,

by using them instead of PowerPoint.

As a test case, I propose we start with American dancers.

After all, they are the most perishable of their kind,

prone to injury and very slow to heal due to our health care system.

(Laughter)

Rather than dancing our PhDs,

we should use dance to explain all of our complex problems.

Imagine our politicians using dance to explain why we must invade a foreign country,

or bail out an investment bank.

It'd sure help.

Of course some day, in the deep future, a technology of persuasion,

even more powerful than PowerPoint may be invented,

rendering dancers unnecessary as tools of rhetoric.

However, I trust that by that day,

we shall have passed this present financial calamity.

Perhaps by then, we will be able to afford the luxury of just sitting in an audience,

with no other purpose than to witness the human form in motion.

(Music)

(Applause)