Lakeville resident puts the ‘mad’ in science

LAKEVILLE — The mad scientist of Lakeville lives for the “ah-hah” moments.

Jonathan Breindel, also known as Jolting Jonathan, has been combining science education and exciting fun in “mad science” performances for 19 years. Last year, he became the owner and Chief Science Officer of Mad Science of Southern Massachusetts and Rhode Island — a science education and entertainment company.

Mad Science is an international performance and enrichment company with franchises across the globe. Breindel is one of 16 other performers who make up the Massachusetts and Rhode Island mad science team, bringing their dose of “edu-tainment” to South Coast schools, Centers on Aging and private events.

Breindel, a Lakeville resident, has performed at Lakeville institutions including the library, Center on Aging and several public schools. His work also brings him to schools in Middleboro and across the region.

“If I can go and do a show and make a kid smile for five minutes — I know it sounds idealistic — but I think we owe that to the world,” he said.

He’s been a “mad scientist” with the company for about 19 years, and when the company's previous owner retired last year, he took the helm in April. 

He said his goal in all of his “mad science” pursuits is to make education approachable and fun while bringing joy to audiences that range from preschoolers to senior citizens. Audiences can expect the unexpected — learning about science without even realizing it.

“At a school, the show is education focused, but we bring the entertainment in so they're learning, but they're still having fun,” Breindel said. “When we go to a show, it's more fun, but we're sneaking that education in.”

At a school assembly, for example, he said they aim to make kids feel like they are part of the performance through engaging questions and hands-on participation.

Through their roughly six shows in rotation and 70 different types of workshops, they cover topics like the states of matter and air pressure, physics and gravity, and aerodynamics and rocketry. 

“The kids are really invested in it, and it’s just us trying to get them excited about learning,” Breindel said.

He said his time these days is split between performing shows and managing the business. It hosts performances at birthday parties, workshops, after-school programs, activity booths and activity weeks during the summer. 

“You name it, we pretty much do it,” he said.

Breindel said he got involved after working many dead end jobs. He wanted to use his theatre performance background, which led him to theaters in Boston and renaissance fairs.

His passion for science performance stems from this background, along with being a self proclaimed — and proud — nerd.

As a “mad scientist” Breindel tries to emulate the great science teachers who left a mark on him as a student, and create “a-hah” moments where audience members' jaws drop and develop a new understanding of science.

As a student, he said it was teachers, not textbooks, who were “able to capture your attention and your imagination,” that left a mark on him. 

“That's what we try to do, and we do that through science,” Breindel said.

Visit the Mad Science of Southern Massachusetts and Rhode Island website to find out more about programming, registration for events and more.