What is FameLab | British Council

2014 FameLab International final at The Times Cheltenham Science Festival.

Since its birth at the Times Cheltenham Science Festival in 2005, FameLab has grown into one of the world’s leading science communication competitions. It aims to find, develop and mentor young science and engineering communicators. The result is a celebrated alumni of young scientists and engineers able to get everyone ‘talking science’ in the media-intensive environment in which we live.

A partnership established with the British Council in 2007 saw the competition go global, with more than 5000 young scientists and engineers participating in over 25 different countries… with new countries taking part each year! Cheltenham Festivals and the British Council co-produce the FameLab International Final, which is held at the Cheltenham Science Festival each June.

Last year, the very first Australian FameLab competition attracted a diverse and vibrant range of early-career researchers, who took the FameLab stage to battle it to become competition winner. In 2015, we’re taking up the search again, to find the most exciting, passionate researchers out there!

FameLab is an exciting competition and so much more...

We help young scientists acquire valuable skills to communicate their work accessibly and attractively to a non-scientific audience.

Why is science communication important?

Science is part of almost every aspect of our lives. Although we rarely think about it, science makes extraordinary things possible. It tells us about the past, helps us with the present, and creates ways to improve our future.

Communicating science accessibly and attractively to a non-scientific audience is an ever-growing priority for researchers worldwide. By doing so they not merely change the common stereotype of the scientist as 'the geek in the white lab coat busy doing strange things', but also justify public funding for their research.

What does the UK have to offer?

The UK is the world leader in the area of science communication – there are academic programmes in the field and a number of annual, exciting science festivals. Science Communication is a recognised profession and the UK’s experience in science communication has changed the way the media report on scientific topics.

One of the biggest prizes for all FameLab finalists is the opportunity to attend a science communication masterclass lead by the best UK trainers in this area.

What happens at the Times Cheltenham Science Festival?

The Times Cheltenham Science Festival in the UK is a six-day celebration of science, engineering and the arts and is produced by Cheltenham Festivals. It is a rare opportunity for the public to come face-to-face with around 300 of the world's leading scientists and thinkers. The festival promises a mix of serious debate, live experiments and surprising discoveries.

Every year breaks yet another record with numerous scientists from around the globe heading to Cheltenham for the FameLab International Final. Finalists from across Europe, Asia and Africa compete to see who is the most exciting, accessible and charismatic science communicator.

Click here to see video from last year’s FameLab International Final.

Countries competing in International FameLab 2015

Australia, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Egypt, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Switzerland, UK.