Cheltenham Festivals is working with nine partners across the UK to deliver FameLab UK, a national competition which aims to encourage scientists to find innovative and interesting ways of communicating their research to engage the public.
The competition will see researchers from across the country take part in regional competitions, which will be hosted by the partner organisations, known as regional hubs, before the national and international stages of the contest. The nine FameLab UK regional hubs include:
- Teesside University (North East)
- University of Cambridge (East)
- University of Nottingham, University of Lincoln, University of Leicester and Nottingham Trent University (East Midlands)
- University of Liverpool and University of Salford (North West)
- Science Festivals NI (Northern Ireland)
- University of Aberdeen (Scotland)
- KMTV Ltd (South East)
- Plymouth Marjon University (South West)
- University of Gloucestershire (Gloucestershire and West Midlands)
Winners of the regional competitions will progress to the national competition at Cheltenham Science Festival in June 2024 for the chance to be named Britain’s best science communicator.
The national competition winner will then represent the UK at the FameLab International live online final in the following November alongside Australia, Czech Republic, Germany, Italy, Malaysia, Republic of Korea, South Africa, Switzerland, Thailand and more.
"We are delighted that Teesside University has been selected as a regional partner for this competition."
Competitors will have just three minutes each to communicate their research to an audience and an expert panel of judges.
The winner is the speaker who best demonstrates FameLab’s three Cs – content, clarity and charisma.
Steph Bales, Director of Research and Innovation at Teesside University, said: “We are delighted that Teesside University has been selected as a regional partner for this competition.
“We look forward to working with FameLab UK and Cheltenham Festivals on this important initiative which we hope will engage the wider public with the fantastic research taking place at Teesside University, within our region, and beyond.” Ali Mawle, Co-CEO of Cheltenham Festivals, added: “We are extremely excited to announce our new partner organisations.
“FameLab is the largest public-facing science communication competition and training programme in the world – and its UK component is central to our mission of developing the science communicators of the future.
“The FameLab family really is an exciting way for all of us to learn more about science – and in particular to help encourage and equip the next generation of science leaders who will teach us more well into the future.
“We’re extremely proud of the calibre of hub organisations the programme has attracted – and we can’t wait to get working with all of them ahead of the next FameLab UK final in 2024.”
