The importance of humour in science

By Aurora Teixeira *

As a “rookie” in INESC Porto, and being confronted with the honour (and extreme fear) of this BIP (Bery Interesting Pals)’s invitation, namely with the challenge of pointing out “what I like the most and the least” about this institution, I thought I would write some lines (with some humour) about scientists…this is, the “thinking heads” that work every day in our intense and useful space.

Before that!

“What I like the least” : endless meetings… and those yellow cookies…

Focusing on the “humour in science” issue, I strongly believe in Vuorela’s words (2005) when he says ““[h]umor is such an inherent part of human interactions, [science] included, that successful [scientists] cannot afford to ignore it”.

Sara (4 years old): “Scientists – some scribbles.

So, and based on some lines taken from several webpages, I will present a small but felt ode to humour ;)

If you haven’t stopped reading this text, you may be on the verge of being considered “that scientist” if..

...the only jokes you get are via e-mail
... you carry out an hour debate on the expected results of a test which only takes 5 minutes
...never had a hard disk back-up
…your I.Q. is higher than your weight
… you remember the seven passwords to your computer but can’t remember your birthday (worse: your wife/husband’s)
... you can type 70 words/minute but can’t read what you handwrite
... You think that when people who are with you are yawning it’s because they haven’t had enough sleep.

I will end this text saying that it is an honour for me to be a part of INESC Porto and there is nothing better than starting with the NONSENSE.

“The most wasted of all days is that on which one has not laughed” (Nicholas-Sébastian Chamfort, 1741-94)

** Vuorela, Taina (2005), “Laughing Matters: A Case Study of Humor in Multicultural Business Negotiations”, Negotiation Journal, January 2005, pp. 105-130.

* Coordinator of the Innovation and Technology Transfer Unit (UITT)