Fame Lab

What can I present at NESTA FameLab?

We are looking for an enthusiastic and exciting 3 minute original presentation that is scientifically accurate but also engaging to a non-scientific audience. Make sure your subject matter is well chosen and clearly presented, that your facts are right, and that you let you passion shine through! We encourage you to present YOUR research but you can present any scientific topic.

You don't need any previous presenting experience, NESTA FameLab is designed to give everyone a go. You will get helpful, positive feedback from the judges for your presentation and top presenting tips in the Mini-MasterClass. You have nothing to lose but a lot to gain!

Check out ‘what are the judges looking for?’ for top tips for your presentation.

You can view some examples of video entries on NESTA FameLab’s YouTube channel.

Where will the competition be this year?

NESTA FameLab are holding 5 regional heats across the country:

Here you can come along and give your 3 minute presentation. There will then be a regional final at each of the events, and if you get through you will need to give a different 3 minute presentation. So come prepared!

The Grand Final will be held at the Cheltenham Science Festival in Cheltenham on the 5th June.

How and when do I enter?

Two entry routes:

VIDEO ENTRIES ARE NOW CLOSED!!! BUT YOU CAN DROP INTO THE REMAINING AUDITION HEATS!

1. Upload a video of yourself doing your presentation (please read the “How to upload a video for FameLab” section carefully).
   
   Video entries close at 5pm on the following dates:
   
   Manchester Regional Heat – 26th March
   Bristol Regional Heat – 9th April
   London Regional Heat – 16th April
   Oxford & Edinburgh Regional Heats – 21st April
   
   You are able to submit your video for any regional heat. If you are selected as one of the video entrants to go straight to a Regional Final we will reimburse your travel costs up to £50 to attend that heat. If you are not selected to go straight to the Regional Finals you can still attend as a ‘drop-in’ on the day (see below).
2. Drop-in audition to one of the five regional heats and give a 3 minute presentation to our panel of expert judges.
   
   You do not need to apply before the day of the audition, but we strongly encourage you to register for the auditions and to receive email updates. The updates will keep you informed about the competition, give you up-to-date details about the auditions, including judges tips as they come to hand and information about other communication opportunities that are coming up.

What can I win?

Weekend MasterClass

The 10 regional finalists and wildcards will win a residential weekend MasterClass in science communication. Here, you will work with TV producers, journalists, science communicators and media trainers.

You will be able to develop your media and presentation skills, get a behind-the-scenes insight into TV and radio production, deconstruct science presentations and work with the team to develop a scientific idea.

This year the MasterClass will be in Bristol at the Mercure Brigstow Hotel 23rd-24th May (with a dinner on Friday 22nd May).

Please note that if you win a place at the MasterClass you are required to attend the whole weekend.

Prizes for the winner and runners-up

The overall NESTA FameLab 09 winner chosen at the final in Cheltenham will receive £10,000!

First runner up will win £5,000 and the 8 finalists will each receive £750!

The NESTA FameLab winner will get two '3 Minute Wonder' Channel 4 TV appearances. Two runners up will also get a '3 Minute Wonder' TV appearance each.

In conjunction with the British Council, we organise a programme of appearances for the winner and runners-up that may involve travelling abroad to represent UK science and technology.

Just for dropping into the auditions

You will be able to take part in a Mini-MasterClass on the day of your heat, where you will learn presentation and communication skills from an expert trainer.

We are also building a database of talented communicators. So, even if you don’t get through to the final, you could still make some very useful contacts.

What is the selection process?

If you enter by video you have the chance to be selected to go straight through to the Regional Finals. If you get selelcted to go to the Regional Finals you are entitled to a travel reimbursement up to £50.

At the Regional Finals, a Regional Winner will be selected and up to three wildcards named.

If you are selected as a wildcard, you will be judged with the wildcards from other regions and five will be selected to compete at the Cheltenham Grand Final.

All of the 5 finalists and 5 selected wildcards win places at the weekend MasterClass held on 23rd-24th May in Bristol, all-expenses paid.

(Please note: It is a requirement that all those that win MasterClass places are present at the training weekend, for the whole duration of the MasterClass.)

Am I eligible?

To enter NESTA FameLab 09 you must be:

• At least 21 years old
• Studying or working in science, technology, engineering or maths

This includes private and public sector employees, technicians and anyone working in or studying the fields of science, technology, engineering or mathematics. The competition aims to provide new opportunities for engineers and scientists to develop their skills as communicators.

We welcome:

• Lecturers and researchers in science, mathematics or engineering subjects, including specialist science teachers with a science degree.
• Researchers who use existing research or meta-studies – they don’t have to be getting their hands dirty
• People who work on applying science, technology or mathematics - i.e. patent clerks, statisticians, computer technicians, consultants to industry
• Postgraduate students of science, mathematics or engineering
• People who apply science, mathematics or engineering in the armed forces or government bodies
• People who apply science, engineering or mathematics in industry or business

Unfortunately we can’t accept people who are:

• Press or PR officers, even for science-related organisations
• Artists who work on science-related themes
• Performers whose shows are about science or engineering
• Science centre staff who work exclusively or mainly with the public
• Journalists and broadcasters (as their main or only job)
• Non-specialist school teachers (UNLESS that activity is a temporary placement or short-term job, and they plan to return to practising or researching science or engineering in the near future.)

Teachers

Specialist teachers (science or maths) are welcome to enter, although please note that presentations should be aimed at a general adult audience.

If you are not sure whether you are eligible, email us to check.

How do I upload a video?

VIDEO ENTRIES ARE NOW CLOSED. YOU CAN STILL 'DROP-IN' TO ANY OF THE REMAINING HEATS

Video criteria

• Up to 3 minutes long (content will not be judged after 3 minutes)
• No editing or special effects
• No other people or excessive props
• No background music (unless that is what you are talking about!)

Recording quality will not be assessed but remember that the clearer you make it the better we can judge it!

NOTE: this is going to be a presentation of what you can do to a live audience. If your video is selected you will have to perform live in front of judges in the regional finals.

Video Entry by YouTube

1. Sign up to YouTube
2. Upload your video
3. Send us the link to your video on the registration form

If you are having problems, please let us know, email us.

NOTE: All videos will be in a public domain, anyone that can access the internet can view and write a comment on your video (if you don’t want people to comment then choose to hide comments when you upload your video). Copyright responsibility lies with you, do not upload any music or content that is not yours.

Video Entry by Mail

We would prefer you to upload your video to YouTube but alternatively you can physically send in your video entry, preferably on a disc, to:

NESTA FameLab,
Cheltenham Festivals,
109-111 Bath Road,
Cheltenham,
Gloucestershire
GL53 7LS

Once you have posted your video, in you MUST fill out the online registration form. Make sure we recieve your posted video by the close off time and date.

What happens at the regional heats?

Registration Desk Opens

You will be required to attend registration. This starts at 10.00am, here we will allocate you an audition time. First in first served, if you wish to register after 12pm then let us know by email, before the day, and we can allocate a time later in the day for your audition.

You are not required to stay for the whole day.

Auditions

You will be given a maximum of 3 minutes in which to impress the judges. They are looking for exciting and engaging talks that can be understood by a general public adult audience. Props are allowed but there is no set up time or assistance. PowerPoint presentations are NOT permitted.

Mini-MasterClass

Everyone that auditions will have the opportunity to participate in a one-hour Mini-MasterClass training session to learn about effective science communication. This is led by an expert trainer. You will receive top-tips and advice about presenting and communicating science to the public.

Regional Finals

Up to 10 successful contestants from the first round will go through to the regional final. For this you will need to present a different 3 minute talk to the judges and a public audience. This presentation can be on the same topic, but must be a different talk. The judges will be able to question you after each presentation and will also give you positive and constructive feedback.

The public is welcome to attend any part of the day, so bring along your friends and family. The Regional Finals are a grand showcase of the talent that are competing for the regional title and a very entertaining couple of hours.

What happens at the grand final?

The 5 finalists and 5 wildcards will go through to the Grand Final at Cheltenham Science Festival on Friday 5th June 2009. Here you will be asked to give a new 3 minute presentation on a contemporary science topic that is different from previous auditions. The judges will be able to question you on the topic and give positive feedback. The NESTA FameLab Grand Final will be in front of a live public audience and there will be a people’s choice award.

The winner of the UK NESTA FameLab Final will compete the next day (Saturday 6th June) in the International FameLab Final against 9 other FameLab winners from across South East Europe.

What are the judges looking for?

At the heats you only have 3 minutes to impress the judges by giving an entertaining and original talk that is scientifically accurate but also engaging to a non-scientific audience. The judges are looking for three qualities: Content, Clarity and Charisma. So make sure your subject matter is well chosen, and clearly put across, that your facts are right, and that you let your passion for your subject shine through!

Here are some judge’s top tips:

• "Add context to your talk"
• "Make me care about your topic"
• "Make sure the props enhance or demonstrate what you say and add value to your presentation."
• "Use props that are suitable for a live audience that have no scientific knowledge."
• "Use light and dark in your tone of voice to highlight the important parts."
• "Try using an everyday analogy or link what you say to common topics that the public can relate to."
• "Over-practice can make your talk sound scripted. Don't worry about learning it so that you are word perfect, if you ad-lib it will come across as more natural and help your personality shine through."
• "Don't cram too much into three minutes, but make sure there is some science in there."
• "Complex scientific language is hard for the public to understand. Try not to use jargon, but if you do explain what it means."
• "Telling a story or narrative draws in the audience - structure your talk with a beginning, middle and end. End on a high point that sums up and relates to an earlier point."

NOTE: The judges WILL take note of your previous communications experience

Who are the judges?

There will be four leading figures from the world of science, communications and media at each of the regional auditions. Read the biographies of our judges.

How do I register?

Register your interest to make sure you don't miss the latest news… or the auditions! Good luck!