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).
FameLab 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, The British Council and Channel 4. At the regional heats, scientists have just 3 minutes to prove to a panel of expert judges they’ve got what it takes to bring science alive on TV. The national competition, now in its second year, aims to identify the next generation of TV science presenters.
Lindsay, whose research is in diseases of farm animals, told a very graphic story of undercooked pork in Mexico that climaxed with her pulling a ‘tapeworm’ from her pocket. Stuart an ecologist originally from Poole, Dorset, impressed the judges with his tales of rate eating carnivorous plants. They will join eight other finalists for two days of intensive training before the FameLab final at the Cheltenham Science Festival on Saturday 10 June 2006. The overall winner of FameLab 2006 will walk away with £2,000, the opportunity to work with a TV producer and pitch their ideas to Channel 4, and a tour of events.
The judges for the heat included BBC Weatherwoman, Heather Reid, Jan Barfoot of the School of Molecular and Clinical Medicine, University of Edinburgh, and Frank Burnett, Director of the Cheltenham Science Festival.
FameLab’s search for the new face of science TV continues in London on Saturday 1 April at the Science Museum’s Dana Centre.
ENDS
For further information and pictures contact:
Sallie Robins
FameLab
020 7249 4858
07733 330344
sr@srPR.net
Notes for Editors
FameLab - FameLab is a registered trademark of Cheltenham Arts Festivals Limited, charity no 251765
FameLab entrants must be at least 21 years old and WORKING IN SCIENCE. This includes private and public sector employees, technicians and anyone working in the fields of science, technology, engineering or maths. Entrants do not need to apply before the day of audition but are encouraged to register their interest at www.famelab.org to receive updates and information. Regional auditions will be held as follows:
Saturday 11 March 2006 Life Science Centre, Newcastle
Sunday 19 March 2006, National Waterfront Museum, Swansea
Sunday 26 March 2006, Our Dynamic Earth, Edinburgh
Saturday 1 April 2006, Dana Centre, London
Saturday 22 April 2006, W5, Belfast
Final to be held at the Cheltenham Science Festival, Cheltenham Saturday 10 June 2006.
NESTA
NESTA, the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts, is working to increase the UK’s capacity for innovation. We invest in all stages of the innovation process, backing new ideas and funding new ventures that stimulate entrepreneurship. For more information visit www.nesta.org.uk
Pfizer
For over 150 years we have been producing medicines that make a difference to patients lives, to their families and to society. We rely on the creativity and innovation of the some 6,500 people we employ in the UK to convert basic science into novel and useful medicines. We support FameLab because communication is at the heart of scientific progress; particularly communication between scientist and non-scientist. FameLab seeks out, trains and rewards new science communicators and recognises the importance of engaging a wider public in science and its application.
The Daily Telegraph
The Daily Telegraph is Britain's best-selling quality daily newspaper. Every Tuesday our dedicated science page brings you the latest discoveries and phenomena from the world of science. As well as our main feature, on anything from cosmology to marine biology, mathematics or psychology, there is also Professor Steve Jones's weekly "View from the Lab" where he explains complex scientific ideas in an entertaining and accessible style.
All of our science coverage can also be found on www.connected.telegraph.co.uk and FameLab coverage is on www.telegraph.co.uk/famelab.
Channel 4
Channel 4 has engaged a new audience with innovative science programming, presented by extraordinary people. “Recent highlights include Anatomy for Beginners, What We Still Don't Know and Alien Worlds." says Louisa Bolch, Science Editor at Channel 4. "We are looking for people with real passion, people with charisma, presence and expert knowledge, who can make us open our eyes and see the world in a new way. We're looking forward to getting to grips with Britain's next generation of science communicators.”
Research Councils UK
Research Councils UK (RCUK) is a strategic partnership through which the UK's eight Research Councils work together to champion the research, training and innovation they support. The Research Councils are the main public investors in fundamental research in the UK with interests ranging from arts and humanities, bio-medicine and particle physics to the environment, engineering and economic research. Individually and collectively, the Research Councils support and promote a free flow of authoritative information and exchange of views between scientists, members of the public and policy-makers in the field of science.
The British Council
The British Council is the United Kingdom's international organisation for educational opportunities and cultural relations, operating independently from the UK Government. The British Council's science programme supports scientific collaboration through the exchange of ideas and knowledge, and by building relationships between young scientists around the world. Through its science and society projects, it stimulates debate about the impacts of science on people's lives and awareness and appreciation of the UK with wider international audiences.
© Cheltenham Festivals 2006/7