Heard the one about a group of academics who did stand-up comedy based on their research?
It is no joke – it happened at the Organ Grinder pub, in Loughborough, on Thursday.
Five academics performed as part of the university's Bright Club, a comedy concept that originated at University College London in 2009 and has swept the country. Academics use their research as the basis for an eight-minute gig.
Five academics performed as part of the university's Bright Club, a comedy concept that originated at University College London in 2009 and has swept the country. Academics use their research as the basis for an eight-minute gig.
Loughborough University's Bright Club has performed twice, to sell-out audiences.
Among those who took to the stage on Thursday was PhD student Sven Hallin, whose research involves energy and buildings.
His set highlighted how adventurous researchers can be by talking about eventful university life – including having been held up twice at gunpoint in America.
Sven said: "I got robbed at gunpoint in Denver while working in the equivalent of McDonald's.
"This guy sticks a gun in my hip and says 'lay on the floor'.
"He was taking money out of the till and he said: "Can I ask you a question?' I said 'Sure, shoot'.
"When I got out of hospital a few days later, I was fine."
Bright Club aims to promote engagement with the public, foster good relations and improve the academics' public speaking skills and confidence.
PhD student Richard Jack helped set up the club.
"If you do research for three years and nothing funny happened, you'd feel like killing yourself," he said.
"Looking at research from an outside perspective it's bizarrely and hilariously detailed.
"I think it breeds comedy very well."
He said a fellow student researching artificial sports surfaces recreated the effect of people walking on them by spending spends days at a time in the lab stroking them.
"If that doesn't give you some comedy material, what will?" Richard said.
Kate Simpson had the idea of setting up the club.
She said: "It's good to do things that are scary – and nobody has yet died on stage.
"After attempting comedy, a regular presentation will never be scary again. Academia can be very serious and I think it helps make us seem more human and approachable."
Proceeds from Thursday's event went to charity Engineers Without Borders, which sponsor placements and education for engineers to help them tackle barriers to human development.
Bright Club is keen to hear from professional comedians, comperes and quirky musicians.
