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2026 Competition

FameLab UK

About FameLab

FameLab is a brilliant competition to find the new voices of science, technology, engineering and maths.
Could it be you?
We will run training on Friday 30 January for all applicants in preparation to take part in the Regional Final held on 17 February 2026 as part of the NI Science Festival.

FameLab UK Regional Hub Organisation for 2025-2026

Previous winners

Emer Maguire won the regional final and then the UK final in 2015 - check out her presentation here and 2024's NI Winner was Dr Aaron Monson, and Dr Erin McAvoy won in 2025.

Check out presentations from our 2024 here Regional winners go on to compete at a FameLab UK Final, hosted live at Cheltenham Science Festival. The FameLab UK winner will also represent the UK at the FameLab International Final. Applications to take part in FameLab UK are open on 1st October and close on 16th January. We are holding FameLab training on 30 January 9.30am at Queens.

2026 National Finals

Winners of the NI Regional Final will go on to compete at the UK final at the Cheltenham Science Festival in June 2026.

Image of Evelyn Keaveney
video
2025 NI Final

Evelyn Keaveney

Image of Erin McAvoy
video
2025 NI Final

Erin McAvoy

Image of Stephen Moreland
video
2025 NI Final

Stephen Moreland

Image of Emily Bond
video
2025 NI Final

Emily Bond

Our partners

Queen’s University Belfast
Matrix
Ulster University

Got a question?

Have a look through our FAQs to see if we’ve answered your question here. If you don’t see your question, please contact us.

What are the aims of FameLab?
• Encourage and enable science-related researchers to communicate their work with the public in an engaging and exciting way.
• Create an active, international community of science-related researchers who are confident and skilled in communicating their research with the public .
​• Facilitate an international network of trainers and institutions sharing resources, best practice and opportunities to support science communication.
• Find and support the next generation of Cheltenham Science Festival speakers​
Am I eligible to apply?
FameLab is trying to find people who want to talk about their science, not the people who have already shifted into science communication or promotion as a full-time career.

• Lecturers in science including social sciences, technology, engineering, mathematics or 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 apply science including social sciences, technology, engineering or mathematics – for example, patent clerks, statisticians, computer technicians, consultants to industry
• Postgraduate students of science including social sciences, technology, engineering or mathematics (over 21)
• People who apply science including social sciences, technology, engineering or mathematics in the armed forces or government bodies
• People who apply science including social sciences, technology, engineering or mathematics in industry or business

You can take a look at our FameLab UK Participant Guide for more information
What does a FameLab performance look like?
You can check out our very own Emer Maguire here talking about the science of love and all of our 2024 FameLab participants here
The Department for the Economy
Belfast City Council
Derry City & Strabane District Council
Tourism Northern Ireland
Ulster University
Queen’s University Belfast
The Open University
British Council Northern Ireland
Matrix
The Department for Communities
Film Hub NI
Institute of Physics
Belfast Harbour
Kainos
Almac
Love Heritage NI
Discover Northern Ireland