FameLab
FameLab is the largest, public facing, science communication competition and training programme in the world. FameLab® is a registered trademark of Cheltenham Festivals.
About FameLab
Created by Cheltenham Festivals in 2005 this world leading science communication competition discovers, trains and promotes the best new voices in science (including social sciences), technology and engineering.
FameLab has been run in over 30 countries across the world together with more than 200 local Partner organisations. This vibrant global network brought together over 40,000 scientists and engineers who are able to engage with international audiences.
Aims of FameLab
- Encourage and enable science-related researchers to communicate their work with the public in an engaging and exciting way
- Create an active, international community of science-related researchers who are confident and skilled in communicating their research with the public
- Facilitate an international network of trainers and institutions sharing resources, best practice and opportunities to support science communication
- Find and support the next generation of Cheltenham Science Festival speakers
The Competition
Researchers from across the globe gather online or live to compete to vie for the title of world’s best science communicator.
Contestants have just three minutes to convey a scientific concept of their choice to a global audience and an expert panel of judges. The winner is the speaker who best demonstrates FameLab’s 3 C’s – Content, Clarity and Charisma.
FameLab Eligibility
FameLab is trying to find people who want to talk about their science, not the people who have already shifted into science communication or promotion as a full-time career.
You can take a look at our FameLab UK Participant Guide for more information at the bottom of the page.
We welcome:
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Lecturers in science including social sciences, technology, engineering, mathematics or subjects, including specialist science teachers with a science degree.
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Researchers who use existing research or meta-studies – they don’t have to be getting their hands dirty
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People who apply science including social sciences, technology, engineering or mathematics – for example, patent clerks, statisticians, computer technicians, consultants to industry
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Postgraduate students of science including social sciences, technology, engineering or mathematics (over 21)
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People who apply science including social sciences, technology, engineering or mathematics in the armed forces or government bodies
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People who apply science including social sciences, technology, engineering or mathematics in industry or business
FameLab UK – Regional Hub Organisations
Cheltenham Festivals works closely with partner organisations who will be recognised as a Regional Hub Organisation for FameLab in their region of the UK. These partners will be trained and equipped with all the resources they need before beginning recruitment. Participants will apply centrally by selecting the hub nearest to them.
Hub Organisations will then run training for all applicants in preparation to take part in their Regional Finals. Regional winners go on to compete at a FameLab UK Final, hosted live at Cheltenham Science Festival. The FameLab UK winner will also represent the UK at the FameLab International Final.
Application to take part in FameLab UK open in October 2023.
We are delighted to welcome our new FameLab UK Regional Hub Organisations for 2023-2024.
East Midlands: University of Nottingham, University of Lincoln, University of Leicester and Nottingham Trent University, East of England: University of Cambridge, North East: Teesside University, North West: University of Liverpool (UoL) and University of Salford (UoS), Northern Ireland: Science Festivals NI, South East: KMTV Ltd, The South-West: Plymouth Marjon University, Gloucestershire & the West Midlands: University of Gloucestershire.
FameLab International – Country Host Organisations
Cheltenham Festivals works closely with international partner organisations who will be recognised as a Country Host Organisation for FameLab in their country. These partners will be trained and equipped with all the resources needed before they begin recruitment. Each country will run FameLab independently while still supported by Cheltenham Festivals. National winners then go on to compete at the FameLab International Final hosted online in November.
We are delighted to continue FameLab with international partners for 2023.
Australia: Foundation for the Western Australia Museum, Czech Republic: Charles University, Germany: Bielefeld Marketing, Italy: Psiquadro, Malaysia: Malaysian Industry-Government Group for High Technology (MIGHT), Republic of Korea: KOFAC (Korea Foundation for the Advancement of Science and Creativity), South Africa: South African Agency for Science and Technology Advancement (SAASTA) - a business unit of the National Research Foundation and Jive Media Africa, Switzerland: Life Science Zurich, BioScience Network Lausanne and Graduate Center University of Basel and Thailand: The National Science Museum. FameLab Academy International also continues in Australia: Foundation for the Western Australia Museum and Qatar: Qatar National Research Fund.
FameLab Academy
FameLab Academy is the sister to FameLab. It takes the same successful format and adapts it to a secondary school context.
FameLab News
FameLab has been a great chance to meet inspiring people who are doing and communicating wonderful research around the world. Learning from each other, encouraging each other and building networks that will last into the future has been a brilliant experience, and one that I’ve been very lucky to be a part of. Tim Gordon, FameLab International Winner 2019
