Launching Thailand’s creative science communication competition ‘FameLab’ Season 3
British Council, together with the Ministry of Science and Technology, National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA), National Science Technology and Innovation Policy Office (STI), National Science Museum (NSM), Euraxess, The Standard and True Corporations, is launching Thailand’s creative science communication competition ‘FameLab’ to search for the country’s finest science communicators to represent Thailand in the International FameLab at Cheltenham Science Festival in the UK during 5 – 10 June 2018.
FameLab is Thailand’s very first creative science communication competition to search for talented science communicators aged 18 plus. Entrants have three minutes to explain a science concept in a unique and entertaining way, bringing it to life in a way that impresses and inspires the audience. They can use mobile props to enhance their presentation but use of electronic or computer-based tools are not allowed. This year marks the third season of FameLab Thailand.
‘FameLab Thailand will help change the public perception of science and make research and science more fun and engaging,’ said the Science and Technology Minister, Dr Suvit Maesincee.
‘Communication is a great tool to share knowledge and innovation. Sharing science stories and research to public in a fun and engaging way will encourage people to love science and eventually use it to drive the country's economy,’ said Mr Noppadol Dej-Udom, True Corporation.
Mr Andrew Glass, Director, British Council in Thailand, said ‘We build international collaboration to support science and research. FameLab will equip scientists with valuable and applicable skills for their communication. We cannot wait to hear about the new science stories and new discoveries coming from labs across Thailand.’
FameLab is now open for application until 20 March 2018. The national finals will take place on 28 April 2018. The eventual national winner will be representing Thailand at the international final at Cheltenham Science Festival in the UK during 5 – 10 June 2018. Candidates can apply via website at https://www.britishcouncil.or.th/en/famelab.
FameLab was established at Cheltenham Science Festival in 2005 and has grown into a global phenomenon in partnership with the British Council. Its aim is to find, develop and mentor young science and engineering communicators. There are three basic stages: audition, national heats and finals. The national finalists will attend a two or three day master class to gain invaluable skills from UK-based expert trainers, make friends, build a network and have fun. The national final competition will be followed by an international final in the UK at Cheltenham Science Festival. Events are held in front of live audiences and are often televised or streamed online. The winners will be awarded scholarships and many more prizes are up for grabs.
Since its start in 2005, the competition has taken off and it is now held across Europe, Asia, Africa and the United States in more than 30 countries; Australia, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Egypt, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Korea, Lithuania, Malaysia, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland, UK, USA, Vietnam and Thailand.
The British Council is the UK’s international organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities. We create friendly knowledge and understanding between the people of the UK and other countries. Using the UK’s cultural resources we make a positive contribution to the countries we work with – changing lives by creating opportunities, building connections and engendering trust.
We work with over 100 countries across the world in the fields of arts and culture, English language, education and civil society. Each year we reach over 20 million people face-to-face and more than 500 million people online, via broadcasts and publications.
Founded in 1934, we are a UK charity governed by Royal Charter and a UK public body. The majority of our income is raised delivering a range of projects and contracts in English teaching and examinations, education and development contracts and from partnerships with public and private organisations. Eighteen per cent of our funding is received from the UK government.
We have been in Thailand since 1952 and currently established 6 offices in Thailand; 5 in Bangkok and 1 Chiang Mai. We are committed to developing relationships between UK and Thailand and creating opportunity through our work English, education, examinations, the arts and society.