Elizabeth Landau Portrait

"About 10 years ago, I started taking improv comedy classes when I lived back in Atlanta. It really teaches you how to go with the flow, to be present in a situation, to be ready for things to go wrong, and to be able to jump in and save a conversation or help somebody who is struggling to find the right words. These are things we do in our everyday lives that we can also do on stage, and I love that aspect of it. "I started using the tools of comedy to rewrite popular songs – such as from the musical Hamilton – to be about space. I love making people laugh and smile and think there’s something really special about finding things funny or amusing in a respectful way. It is a different level of connection than, ‘Oh, that's interesting.’ It ignites a different emotional response in you, and I think there’s a place for that in science communication as well. "Often in popular culture, there’s a bit of a stigma around people who enjoy learning about space and science; that it’s only for nerds. But if you insert it into a genre that you wouldn't normally find it in, like music or comedy, then suddenly you’re connecting with people on a different level. They might not go out and read a textbook, but they might come away from a song or a comedy show thinking, ‘Huh, I thought I was just going to this event for entertainment, but I actually learned something.’ That’s cool! It’s like you’re seasoning it or putting a little sugar in it. "Something improv comedy taught me is: When you start to let go and not take yourself too seriously and embrace the spontaneity of a situation, that’s really freeing, and people respond well to that." Elizabeth Landau, Senior Communications Specialist for NASA’s Science Mission Directorate, poses for a portrait, Friday, July 30, 2021, in Washington. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)