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FameLab Australia

About FameLab

FameLab is the world’s leading public-facing science communication competition and training program, created by Cheltenham Festivals (UK) in 2005. Since 2007, the competition has gone global in over 40 countries, with more than 40,000 scientists participating to date.

FameLab is recognised as being a powerful means to identifying and nurturing new voices in science, with previous alumni embarking on high-profile careers in science communication and the media.   

The Foundation for the WA Museum is the producer and country host organisation of FameLab Australia. The focus of FameLab Australia is to promote excellence in science communication for early career STEM researchers in universities and industry. The competition is open to early career STEM researchers currently completing postgraduate studies or within five years of completing their postgraduate degrees.   

No ordinary science communication competition

FameLab provides an ideal platform for early career researchers to tell a national and international audience about their work, represent their organisation, and create career opportunities by creating a profile as a quality researcher and trained communicator. And FameLab is more than a competition - the program offers participants extensive science communication training.  

All qualified applicants are able to attend a science communication training workshop to help them prepare their first presentation – a 3-minute video submission. The applicants chosen for the semi-finals receive additional science communication training provided by subject matter experts.

The finalists who are selected from the semi-finals receive additional Masterclass training as well as a free, immersive, 3-night science communication experience in Perth where they compete live on stage for the title of Australian FameLab Winner.

Learn more about FameLab Australia 2024

The FameLab Australia 2023 Winner - Olivia Carroll

Olivia Carroll, an immunologist and microbiologist representing the University of Newcastle and Hunter Medical Research Institute, is the winner of the FameLab Australia 2023 science communication competition. CSIRO astrometallurgist Dr Matthew Shaw, and Curtin University’s neuroscientist Melissa Papini were named runners-up. 

Olivia represented Australia in the FameLab 2023 International Final held on 24 November 2023. The international FameLab Final featured the country winners from Australia, the Czech Republic, Germany, Italy, Malaysia, the Republic of Korea, South Africa, Switzerland and Thailand.  

What is FameLab really like?

Wayne Lubbe, the Foundation's Project Manager for FameLab Australia, shared the 2023 FameLab journey with all participants from start to finish. 

Here are his takeaways and biggest "wow" moments. 

Let Wayne take you behind the scenes