Put Down the Textbook and Open TikTok
How Lab Shenanigans uses TikTok to teach science.
This article follows our #EDIYourSci Workshop Series, in which we explore science communication incorporating equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI). We aim to question and critically discuss the ways science communication is done and how we can move forward to integrate non-traditional methods and EDI in our practices.
by Ive Velikova
Graphic by Elena YH Lin
Image Description: A drawn icon of Darrion Nguyen’s smiling face centres the graphic, atop a pink to orange to golden yellow ombre background. His social media handle @lab_shenanigans lies below, along with a verified blue checkmark. The event title “Walk the Walk, Tik the Tok: Using Social Media to Communicate Your Research ft. Darrion Nguyen” sits along the bottom of the graphic, accompanied by the TikTok navigation bar icons for Home (house), Discover (magnifying glass), Inbox (message), and Me (person).
Darrion Nguyen is changing the science game, 15 seconds a time. Nguyen, 26, teaches science using bite-sized videos to over 500,000 viewers on TikTok under the handle @lab_shenanigans.
TikToks are easily digestible, 15 to 60 second videos accompanied by a song or audio clip. With 800 million monthly active users, TikTok is currently the sixth largest social media platform. Nearly 70% of users are 13 to 24 years old, and the average person spends 53 minutes on the app each day. If you want to inspire young audiences, TikTok is the place to be.
In a recent webinar hosted by science + art initiative SciComm Collective, eager attendees gathered to learn virtually from the expert himself. Nguyen shared how to leverage popular culture to make science fun and relatable. Let’s spill the tea on how he does it.
The Lab Shenanigans Origin Story
Lab Shenanigans started back in 2019, when Nguyen worked as a research technician. After graduating from the University of Texas at Austin in 2017 with degrees in biochemistry and theatre, he worked in a laboratory while applying to PhD programs. During his free time, Nguyen started exploring his brand new sandbox: TikTok.
“I would often stay late in lab doing experiments – but also doing some lab shenanigans!” When lab work was done for the day, @lab_shenanigans was born: a safe place to dump silly science videos.
Going Viral
After posting a few videos, Nguyen still had only one follower: his cousin. That changed when he posted this video staging an argument between a mitotic spindle fibre and a chromosome. A mitotic spindle fibre divides a chromosome – which has two interwoven strands – into two separate “daughter” strands. In this 11-second clip, Nguyen makes this microscopic process a little easier to understand.
The video went viral. Nguyen returned to the app a few days later to 30,000 new likes on the video and 19,000 new followers on his account. Now, the video sits at 2.4 million views.
Nguyen was surprised. His videos – an escape from his science-filled day job – were being received as mini science lessons “High schoolers and college students would watch this video, learn something, and comment, ‘I never really understood this but you gave me a great visual. Now, I’ll never forget it!’”
As his views soared, Nguyen realized the unique opportunity he had. “With great power comes great responsibility.” Since that video, he became more intentional about weaving science tidbits into each video.
Now, Nguyen’s 100+ videos have garnered 14.1 million likes on TikTok. He’s impersonated cells, proteins, and biological processes of all shapes and sizes. He’s nothing short of a science celebrity. What’s the secret to his success?
Lab Shenanigans Uses Pop Culture to Build Trust in Science
Nguyen brings his entire, authentic self to each video – queer, chaotic, and self-aware. His content is a breath of fresh air for many scientists and students used to reading dry journal articles. “I like to joke around and say that I’m a true gay. I’m the epitome of a gay, because anything that is chaotic, that’s messy – I’m like, that’s it!”
This is the kind of content many viewers seek out on TikTok. Creators take advantage of popular voice overs, lip syncs, and other trending audio clips by adding their unique spin on a trend. When we scroll through TikTok and hear a familiar sound, we feel “in the know.” It’s a pop culture reference we get, whether it’s a Real Housewives quote, Lil Nas X song, or viral Lady Gaga interview. By latching a science tidbit onto a trend, Nguyen helps us feel “in the know” of the science, too.
Many scientists are working to build trust in science. According to 3M’s State of Science Index, 44 per cent of survey respondents see scientists as “elitist.” We often see scientists as distant professionals in lab coats – professionals who are often white, straight, and male. Nguyen breaks this mold as scientist who is unapologetically gay, Asian, and pop culture-obsessed. He’s meeting the audience where they’re at, and bringing the science with him.
Don’t be Afraid to Laugh
Nyugen launched the workshop by encouraging the workshop audience to turn on our microphones and “roast” (make fun of) him at any time. “I think it's funny,” he laughed. “If you have anything to say, just drop it in the comments. Turn on your mic, just say it. I don’t mind!”
This sense of humour is at the heart of Lab Shenanigans. “I want to have fun making this content. I want my viewers and my audience to see me have fun and join in on the fun.”
If he’s having fun learning about science, maybe you can, too. We’re not learning science out of a bland textbook. We’re laughing with a peer to a joke we’re all in on. By incorporating pop culture, viewers feel “in the know” – with some science blending seamlessly into the clip!
The Creation Process
If you aspire to TikTok fame, here’s the Lab Shenanigans process.
Nguyen’s first step is to scroll through his “For You” page (TikTok’s personalized “news feed”) to find trending sound clips. When Nguyen finds a sound he likes, he turns on his “actor brain” and transcribes the sound clip into a mini “script.” Even a quick video like this one get its own script:
Pounding x 7
That’s some bullsh—
Looking at the script, Nguyen then brainstorms some related science concepts:
Something involving pounding… heart pumping?
A molecule trying to pass a barrier?
What is the emotion in this clip? The molecule sounds frustrated. Why would a molecule be frustrated?
Once Nguyen works out a good concept and assigns “actors” to each line – in this case, a molecule pounding against a barrier – he’s ready to film. After filming for 15-20 minutes (even for just a 15-second video) Nguyen edits and posts.
The final product is a bite-sized, trendy video that doubles as a science lesson.
Blue Skies Ahead
Nguyen has big dreams for his science communication career. Skyrocketing to fame led him to turn down his dream neuroscience PhD program in favour of full-time content creation. “A lot of acting positions have opened up to me,” he shared. “Casting directors have reached out to me, because they’re like, ‘You have a science background, and you majored in theatre! We’re looking for a science host for this show!’”
From his merch store to upcoming acting gigs, we can’t wait to see what Lab Shenanigans has in store. Nguyen has blended his acting training, science knowledge, and chaotic sense of humour to create videos that make you laugh while teaching you science along the way.
Nguyen is just what science needs – enthusiastic, authentic, and steeped in pop culture. You can find him on TikTok, YouTube, and everywhere else across social media – look out, you might learn some science along the way!
Author Bio
Ive Velikova (she/her)
Ive Velikova is a science communicator and storyteller. Equipped with a Masters’ Degree in Science Communication, she communicates about climate action at Efficiency Canada and debunks COVID-19 misinformation with Science Up First. Ive is an enthusiastic storyteller who has spoken at the Ontario Science Centre, Soapbox Science, Story Collider, and Science Is A Drag. When she’s not gushing about science, you can find her hiking and birding in local parks.
