Nicholas Harrigan, 25, a postgraduate student in Quantum Optics at Imperial College, London won NESTA FameLab - a national competition to discover the new voices of UK science and engineering, at the live final last night (Sat 9 June 2007). Nicholas, originally from Bromsgrove, Birmingham took to the stage at the Cheltenham Science Festival Final in full chef’s outfit to give a “sparky” performance on the science of microwaves. After wowing the audience by making a light bulb light up in a microwave oven he went on to enlighten them on how microwaves create heat in food. ‘It’s a bit like rubbing your hands together’, he explained. ‘The microwaves make the water molecules in things jig about and rub together and so they heat up.’
Nicholas Harrigan, 25, a postgraduate student in Quantum Information at Imperial College, London is the first person through to the final of NESTA FameLab 2007. Nicholas, originally from Bromsgrove, Birmingham, impressed the judges with a humorous take on Spiderman’s ability to climb walls. After fooling the judges into thinking they were about to be attacked by a jumping spider – it was only plastic – Nicholas went on to describe how spiders can stick to surfaces and climb walls.
NESTA FameLab – a national competition to discover the new voices of UK science and engineering kicks off in London on Tuesday 6 March. The competition - dubbed the science world’s equivalent of Pop Idol - is the brainchild of the Cheltenham Science Festival and NESTA (the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts).
Jonathan Wood, a Biologist from Oxford won FameLab - science's answer to Pop Idol - in a closely fought final yesterday (Sat 10th June) at the Cheltenham Science Festival. In the competition to find the new face of science broadcasting, Jonathan spun a story of spider's webs and sciences failed attempts to create fibres with similar strength and elasticity. He fought off stiff competition from nine other finalists to win £2,000, a tour of events and the chance to work with Channel 4 - a key FameLab sponsor. On his newfound fame Jonathan said, 'I guess next year will be quite a roller coaster ride'.
Ten scientists are now through to the final of FameLab UK science's equivalent of Pop Idol, aiming to find the broadcast science presenters of tomorrow. To test their ability to make science come to life, the finalists have each produced a 99 second podcast on a subject chosen by visitors to Channel 4's FameLab website [url=http://www.channel4.com/famelab]www.channel4.com/famelab[/url] (Channel 4 being a key supporter of FameLab).
Jonathan Wood, Deputy Editor of science journal Materials Today and David Loong an organic chemist at Imperial College, London are through to the final of FameLab, science's equivalent of Pop Idol. They fought off stiff competition at the London heats held at The Science Museum’s Dana Centre, London on Saturday (1 April 2006).
Lindsay Stenhouse a PhD student at the Moredun Research Institute, Penicuik, Midlothian and Stewart McPherson an undergraduate at Durham University are through to the final of FameLab, science's equivalent of Pop Idol. They fought off stiff competition at the Scottish heats held at Our Dynamic Earth, Edinburgh on Sunday (28 March 2006).
Sarah Forbes-Robertson, a researcher at Swansea University and Damian Bailey a Professor in Physiology at University of Glamorgan are through to the final of FameLab, science's equivalent of Pop Idol. They fought off stiff competition at the Welsh heats held at the National Waterfront Museum, Swansea yesterday (19 March 2006).
The first two finalists of FameLab, science's equivalent of Pop Idol, were selected in Newcastle today (Saturday 11 March). Steve Robertson, a PhD student at the University of Newcastle and Sarah Curtis a final year research student at Leeds University beat off stiff competition at the FameLab’s first regional heat at The Centre for Life.
Regional heats of FameLab - a national competition to discover the new faces of UK science - kick off in Newcastle on Saturday 11 March as part of National Science Week and the Newcastle Science Festival.
Biographical details of 2005 winner Dr Mark Lewney and information on media and events undertaken since winning. Details of other finalists and projects arising from FameLab.
Facts and figures from FameLab 2005
A new poll published today reveals that the public feel it is very important for them to be informed about new developments in science and technology and they see the media as the most effective method for scientists to do this. The MORI survey commissioned by NESTA (the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts) coincides with the launch of FameLab - a national competition to discover the new faces of UK science. This initiative, dubbed the science world's equivalent of Pop Idol is the brainchild of NESTA the Cheltenham Science Festival.
FameLab - a national competition to discover the new faces of UK science launched today in London (Tuesday 8 November 2005). The competition -dubbed the science world's equivalent of Pop Idol - is the brainchild of the Cheltenham Science Festival and NESTA (the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts) and supported by Pfizer, The Daily Telegraph, Research Councils UK and Channel 4.
Electrifying Final reveals Dr Lewney to be FameLab winner
© Cheltenham Festivals 2006/7