Workshops

Applied Improv, Science Communication, and Team Workshops

Ben Rush is an Informatics Data Scientist in the Department of Radiology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the founder of Amalgam Improv in Madison, Wisconsin. His background sits at the intersection of science, communication, and performance: he trained in biology, neuroscience, epidemiology, and nutritional sciences, then built a career in data science, biomedical research, teaching, and public-facing science communication.

Ben became seriously involved in improv in January 2020 when he took Improv for Scientists with Amy Zelenski. That class changed how he thinks about communication, leadership, and collaboration. Improv gave him practical tools for uncertainty, listening, trust, and creativity, and those skills became even more important during COVID. Since then, he has brought improv into research environments, classrooms, conference spaces, and professional development settings.

Today, Ben designs and leads workshops that help scientists, trainees, and professional teams communicate clearly, collaborate effectively, and think more creatively under pressure. He also leads Amalgam Improv, where he continues to develop performance-driven training experiences that transfer directly to research teams, healthcare settings, and business environments.

Workshops Ben Leads

• Applied Improv for Scientists Workshops
• Team Science Workshop
• Something's Funny: Humor for Better Communication, Teamwork, and Ideas in Science
• An Introduction to Strategic Science Communication
• Applied Improv for Business Pitches
• AI for Scientists