University is regional hub for international scientific research competition

University of Gloucestershire is supporting the world’s largest science communication and training initiative showcasing the expertise and knowledge of scientists in an exciting and engaging way.

Founded by Cheltenham Festivals in 2005, FameLab encourages and enables scientific researchers to communicate their often complex work in ways that are accessible and understandable to the public, in a competition format.

Applications for FameLab UK 2024 have opened online.

The University – the Gloucestershire and West Midlands UK Regional Hub Organisation for FameLab UK 2024 – will provide shortlisted applicants from the region with access to training and resources around science communication ahead of regional heats.

FameLab world champion

The winners of each regional final will progress to their national finals before the competition culminates in an international final at which the world champion will be crowned.

The regional semi-finals are in February and regional finals are in March. The national finals are on stage at the Cheltenham Science Festival from 4-9 June 2024.

In a 15-year partnership with the British Council, FameLab has run in more than 40 countries across the world together with more than 200 local partners organisations.

The regional hub at the University is headed up by Dr Simon Fryer, Senior Lecturer in Sports and Exercise Physiology, who said: “We’re delighted to be taking part in FameLab again and excited about receiving applications from many of the best scientific research communicators across Gloucestershire and the West Midlands.

“Scientists will have only three minutes to communicate their research to an expert panel of judges, so it’s undoubtedly a challenging competition, but we have some excellent scientific researchers in our region.

“It would be fantastic if someone from our region won the national final on ‘home’ soil at the Cheltenham Science Festival next year – let’s hope so.”

Main image: Previous winners from FameLab