FreshScience is partnering with the British Council and The Times Cheltenham Science Festival to morph Fresh Science into FameLab Australia.

FameLab is run in 23 countries around the world and adds an international element to Fresh Science with the national winner heading over to the UK to present at The Time Cheltenham Science Festival.

FameLab state finalists will be invited to take part in a one day media and communication training workshop, run by FameLab Presenting Partners, Fresh Science.

The workshop will help state finalists feel more comfortable in talking with journalists and give them more control over their media appearances.

Over the day, state finalists will learn how to see the story in their science, which is a skill useful not just for the media, but also for grant applications, talking to other stakeholders and even down at the pub!

Then state finalists will deliver a three-minute presentation at a public event in front of a panel of three FameLab judges.

Looking for passionate young researchers to win a trip to the UK: launching FameLab Australia

We’re looking for passionate early career researchers with a peer-reviewed discovery to present their science as part of the inaugural FameLab Australia – a new competition presented by the British Council, Cheltenham Festivals and Fresh Science.

The competition builds on Fresh Science, but with a twist.

Plain speaking is essential. Music, song, poetry and props are optional.

Applicants can be honours students, graduate students or up to 5 years post-PhD, and researching in any field of science, maths or engineering.

FameLab Australia will add an international element of performance to the existing Fresh Science program, which celebrates the achievements of early career researchers and shares their work with media and the public.

Up to 60 early career researchers will be chosen to join us at state finals across Australia, where they will:

• learn to find the story in their science and explain their work to a general audience
• practice their media skills with journalists from TV, radio and the papers
• get on stage to present their work to the public, with three minutes to inspire them…and our panel of judges.

The top two from each state final will jet over to Perth for the national final.

Over four days, they’ll perfect their pitch with help from experts in communication and presentation, and we’ll tell the media and science community about their work.

The winner of the national final will head to the UK to represent Australia at the FameLab International Grand Final, at the Times Cheltenham Science Festival in June.

Applying is easy. Applicants need to:

• Tell us about their work in our short online form
• Show us their passion in a simple video – a smartphone will do – explaining their discovery

Key dates

• Nominations for FameLab Australia are now open and close 5pm, Thursday 27 February 2014.
• FameLab state heats in QLD, VIC, NSW, SA and WA, in March and April. Successful applicants from TAS, NT and ACT will be flown to their nearest location.
• National Final in Perth, 12-15 May.
• The International Grand Final is part of The Times Cheltenham Science Festival in the UK, 3-8 June.

To apply online, and for key dates and selection criteria, head to: www.famelab.org.au

FameLab is an initiative of The Times Cheltenham Science Festival. FameLab Australia is presented by the British Council, Cheltenham Festivals and Fresh Science; and supported by Inspiring Australia, the Western Australian Museum and the British High Commission, Canberra.

9 Feb 2014