Sustainable Stand Up at UCL

Communicating climate change issues in ways that are loving, impactful, and funny.

This project adapts the internationally acclaimed ‘Sustainable Stand Up’ course to UCL, using compassionate comedy to reframe climate communication. Through a series of workshops, 6–8 UCL staff and students will develop short climate-themed comedy sets that reflect their research and personal perspectives. These will be performed at a public event at the Grant Museum of Zoology, fostering dialogue between researchers and the public.

The project addresses the “climate paradox” by promoting joy, creativity, and expansive thinking in response to climate anxiety. Audience reflections will inform permanent museum interpretation, creating a lasting legacy. Impacts include improved science communication skills, enhanced wellbeing among participants, and increased public engagement with climate issues. The project will also produce digital outputs and signage, extending its reach beyond the live event.

By blending humour with research, Sustainable Stand Up offers a novel, human-centred approach to climate storytelling and public engagement.