The Uncertainty Lab – a Hands-On Improv Workshop on Navigating Uncertainty for Postdoctoral Researchers

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Most people find taking decisions and action under uncertain conditions challenging, and some find it daunting. There are practical ways to cope with uncertainty and make it less crippling, including simple techniques which can be trained and implemented in our daily lives. Once these skills have been acquired, we can even learn to have uncertainty work to our advantage, using it to fuel creativity and problem solving and to boost team work.

This workshop is an opportunity to experience uncertainty in a safe environment and learn to get comfortable with thinking on our feet. We will borrow tools from improvisation theatre and cognitive sciences to help you experiment with uncertainty and learn strategies for harnessing it to your benefit.

The Speaker: Ron Jortner is a neuroscientist, entrepreneur, and professional improviser. He completed his PhD at Caltech and the Hebrew University, and held positions at the Max Planck Society and the MRC Laboratory for Molecular Biology. He lives in Cambridge, is founder and CEO of Masthead Biosciences, and artistic director of the Cambridge University Science Improv Society.

Be sure to check out the other sessions in our Postdocs Masterclass series in the "Related Courses" section below!

Postdoctoral researchers

If you do not have a CRSID or are otherwise unable to book via the UTBS booking system, please contact development.pda@admin.cam.ac.uk.

Hi all,

I’m Roni, and it's my pleasure to welcome you on board our masterclass, The Uncertainty Lab, next Tuesday. We’ll be using tools from Improv theatre to experiment with uncertainty and learn to make a good thing out of it. This involves having lots of fun in the process and I’m really looking forward to this.

I'll tell you more when we meet, but maybe a few notes now will help you prepare. Most of these are tips regarding the space around you, and following them will ensure you enjoy the workshop more and everyone gets the most out of it. As the masterclass is virtual, I’m aware your conditions may not always be optimal, but if at all possible, please try make sure:

• You have a good and stable internet connection which allows for uninterrupted sound and video via Zoom.

• Your space allows some privacy, and you are comfortable making silly sounds and movements without feeling too self-conscious. Best if you can close a door behind you - someone else in the room might be distracting for both parties, and will make it harder for you to loosen up.

• Ideally, wear comfortable clothes, have a water bottle nearby, and something to write on in case you'd like to take notes.

• Ideally, make sure you can stand up and still be in the camera’s field of view. Also see you can move around, at least a little bit.

• Use a computer/tablet rather than a phone, so you are hands-free and can see everyone on screen at once.

• Better if you use device audio, or wireless headphones - a wire will restrict your movement.

• If at all possible, have good lighting conditions, with your face well lit, and avoid a strong light source behind you.

Again, I'm aware that your conditions may not be ideal, and if all you have now is a shared room with 3 people and a crocodile and you need to use headphones with a short wire and crouch under a table - we can work with that too!

Please feel free to reach out to me with any questions you might have.

I'm looking forward to seeing you all next week, and promise you all we’ll have lots of fun. Best, Roni

Number of sessions: 1

This session will be highly interactive!

2 hours