Search for new science stars comes to Oxford
Wednesday 27th November 2019
It’s time to nourish those neurones as the UK’s longest running competition for the science stars of the future comes to Oxford this winter. Science Oxford is delighted to announce the launch of FameLab UK 2020 and applications are now open.
FameLab is a UK-wide competition to find the new voices of science and engineering. Anyone with a gift for creating an engaging story around either their own scientific research or an area of science they find interesting, can enter.
On stage and with just three minutes to present their story to a panel of science-communication experts, FameLab contestants are judged on their clarity, content and charisma. There’s not a PowerPoint in sight but they are allowed props during their talk to help engage the judges and audience.
Previous participants have included teachers, PhD students, oil engineers and even junior doctors.
So do you have a taste for stardom? Perhaps you do some amazing research and want to share it with the world? Or do you watch other sci-comm professionals and think ‘I could do better’? Whatever your motivation, we’d love to hear from you and signing-up is easy.
Science Oxford runs both the regional heats and final of the competition and Oxford competitors have a great record of making it to the national final (and doing really well). In 2018, Lucy Guille – a junior doctor from Bristol who took part in the Oxford heats – went on to win the nation final. In 2016 our heats generated both the eventual winner Kyle D Evans and the runner-up Jase Taylor. Kyle, a musical mathematician, has since gone on to tour national festivals, the comedy circuit and Edinburgh Fringe. Last year, PhD student Sam Hatfield was the national runner-up for an amazing talk on climate change.
Luiza Patorksi, events manager at Science Oxford, says, “We are lucky to live in a county bursting at the seams with science talent and some the most extraordinary research facilities in the world. We want to shout out to all those people working in science and technology who enjoy engaging with the public about their research to give FameLab a go.”
This year, judges include Oxford Trust trustee Lynne Pebworth, who once had lunch with Brian Cox whilst looking at his holiday photos, and Sam Hatfield.
The 2020 Oxford heats take place at St Aldates Tavern in Oxford on 10thand 11th February. The regional final will take place at Science Oxford Centre, Stansfeld Park, Headington on 6th March, with a special free training session for finalists on 24th February.
It’s an amazing competition and we want to encourage everyone who has ever thought of doing some science performance to SIGN-UP – including past entrants who’d like to give FameLab another go. To register, go to https://www.cheltenhamfestivals.com/science/famelab/
And you check out some past performances at https://scienceoxford.com/sci-comm/famelab/
