Projectorfest: Jargon

Jargon is a terrible blight on communication, understanding, and clarity. It's also hilarious and wonderful. Ben Lillie takes us on a journey through the 10 best pieces of academic jargon, from The Mohorovičić Discontinuity to Deus Ex Machina, and beyond. Come see how the language we use has shaped our view of the world and our place in it. Jargon is presented as a part of Projectorfest 2026, a weeklong showcase of ambitious multimedia-driven comedy projects. More at projectorfest.com. **ABOUT THE CREATOR** Ben Lillie is a recovering physicist who has spent the past 15 years coaching academics on speaking to general audiences. He has a Ph.D. in physics from Stanford University, and is a Moth StorySLAM Champion. He spent time working at TED, which was a fun way to find out rich people really do think they can save the world by being rich. He co-founded The Story Collider, where people tell true, personal stories about science, and is now the co-founder and owner of Caveat. He is also the host and coach of NYU's annual PhD Live competition. He is distressed about the etymology of entomology, but feels good about the ontological foundations of ontogeny.