Picture: Creative science communication on stage: In FameLab, young researchers inspire with original explanations – sometimes also with rubber ducks. Copyright: Wissenswerkstadt Bielefeld / Sarah Jonek
Science explained in 3 minutes
FameLab 2025 draws young researchers on stage and the curious into the audience
Dresden, 27 February 2025: In exactly two months, on 27 April 2025, at the traditional theatre time of 7 p.m., young researchers will take to the stage of the Small House of the Dresden State Theatre. The goal: to explain science in three minutes.
Every year, young researchers from around the world take part in FameLab, a science communication competition initiated by the British Cheltenham Science Festival 20 years ago. Since 2011, young researchers in Germany have also been taking to the stage in FameLab regional heats. This year, Dresden will once again be hosting a regional preliminary round on 27 April 2025, alongside Bremerhaven, Bielefeld, Karlsruhe and Regensburg. Two winners will be selected from each of the preliminary rounds, who will compete in front of an audience of around 1,000 at the grand German final on 24 June 2025 in the Rudolf-Oetker-Halle in Bielefeld.
The preliminary round in Dresden is organised by DRESDEN-concept and Dresden Marketing GmbH (DMG). ‘For scientists, it is a great challenge to present often very complex, highly scientific facts in a way that laypeople can understand what it is about and how it is relevant to them. The participants in FameLab Dresden 2025 are taking on precisely this challenge,’ says Prof. Dr. Gerhard Rödel from DRESDEN-concept.
The DRESDEN-concept research alliance connects more than 40 research and cultural institutions across institutional and disciplinary boundaries. FameLab is an ideal opportunity for young researchers to gain valuable experience in science communication and at the same time make exciting contacts with other committed young scientists in the region.
‘I have been a member of the jury at FameLab Dresden several times and have witnessed the strong performance of the participants as well as the great entertainment value of this event. That's why I know: the competition is a real thriller, the excitement increases with each participant,’ says Corinne Miseer, managing director of DMG, Dresden's official umbrella marketing organisation. Another reason to support FameLab Dresden is its close thematic alignment with the DMG's PR campaign for the city. ‘Dresden is one of the most important research and study locations in Europe, in the world. We are showcasing this with our PR campaign for the city, Dresden – Tomorrow's Home, and the FameLab Dresden participants are also showcasing this,’ says Miseer.
Taking part made easy
Young researchers have until 17 March 2025 to apply online for a place at FameLab via https://wissenswerkstadt.de/famelab. Students in their master's degree and young scientists aged 21 and over from the fields of social sciences, natural sciences, engineering, mathematics, computer science, psychology or medicine can take part.
In addition to the appeal of presenting their research topic or project to a large audience, there are also prizes to be won: €300 for the winner of the Dresden regional heat, €200 for second place, a two-day communication and media training course and participation in the FameLab Germany final in Bielefeld.
Compact three-minute performance required
Participants in FameLab Dresden have a maximum of three minutes to present their research or other scientific topics in German or English on the stage of the Kleines Haus at the Staatsschauspiel Dresden. They are allowed to use props that support their scientific stage presence and can be worn on the body, but digital presentations are explicitly excluded. A jury of experts from the fields of science, communication and culture will judge the performances on the basis of three criteria: the contribution must be factually correct, entertaining and captivating.
To enable as many people as possible to watch the exciting contest live and on the spot in the Kleines Haus in Dresden, admission is free and there is room for over 300 spectators.
‘Research is exciting, entertaining and truly encouraging. Those who present their research project on the FameLab stage today may well be making a decisive contribution to solving the major challenges of our present and future tomorrow. Let us cheer on these people with our interest and applause,’ says Corinne Miseer.
Further information is available here:
- FameLab page on DRESDEN-concept.de:
- Central FameLab website and registration: https://wissenswerkstadt.de/famelab
- FameLab YouTube channel with examples: https://www.youtube.com/user/famelabgermany