The Man in the Lab Coat

Welcome to the internest of Ben McKenzie, sometimes known as the Man in the Lab Coat. Ben is a Melbourne-based actor, comedian and writer who brings the wonder of science to the masses through a unique blend of theory and mirth.

Grounded in fact but soaring on the wings of hilarity, Ben brings energy, humour and sideburns of Graeme Garden proportions to the field of science communication, for audiences ranging from schools and scientific institutions to comedy punters at some of Australia’s biggest festivals. As the “Man in the Lab Coat” he has tackled the history and influence of science, evolution, the misappropriation of science by media and the very nature and origin of the cosmos. He has also brought other comedians into the science comedy fold, most notably for Museum Comedy, a series of comedy events in cultural institutions that began with the Melbourne Museum Comedy Tour in 2008, and now a fixture of the Melbourne International Comedy Festival.

Ben has also been a writer, performer and director for Melbourne sketch group The Anarchist Guild Social Committee, regularly performs scientific and political stand-up with Political Asylum, presents and narrates educational video programmes, and produces independent comedy and theatre projects through his company Shaolin Punk. He writes here about science, and at My Blog Loves a Bunch of Authors about books.

To find out more about Ben, visit the Who? page.