What Happens When Serious Scientists Put on Their Dancing Shoes?
in the mood (to do something): wanting to do something or ready to do it
The annual Dance Your PhD contest asks scientists to turn their complex research into dance performances. This year’s winner was Sulo Roukka from the University of Helsinki. He studied how people experience sensations from food compounds like capsaicin and menthol.
The contest, started in 2008 by science journalist John Bohannon, has become a global celebration of science and art. Each year, winners are chosen in physics, chemistry, biology, and social science. Roukka received 2,750 dollars as the overall champion.
The 2025 results also showed a big change in participation from past years. Bohannon said, “This year, American scientists did not seem to be in the mood to dance. Lucky for the world, Europe’s scientists have doubled their creativity and enthusiasm.”
See what happens when “science meets the dancefloor” in the winning videos below.
Sample sentences
I’m not in the mood to go out tonight. I just want to stay home and rest.
Everyone was in the mood to celebrate after hearing the good news.
She was in the mood for a romantic movie, not an action film.
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And the winner of this year’s ‘Dance Your Ph.D.’ contest is …