WHAT IS FAMELAB?

FameLab is the top international science competition in front of an audience. FameLab started in the UK in 2005. Starting with 2007, the British Council organised FameLab International in 9 countries in Europe. The British Council and Cheltenham Festivals will now organise this competition in 17 countries in Europe, Africa, Asia and South America. The winners from each country will meet in Famelab International Final taking place in the UK under The Times Cheltenham Science Festival.

This year marked the 4th edition of FameLab International in Romania. We aimed at finding young people able to communicate their passion for science and technology to the audience in a hall or on television!

HOW DID THE COMPETITION TAKE PLACE?

The competition was opened to anyone aged 18 to 35 years old who wanted to share their passion for science and technology with the wider public and especially with the younger generation.

Each participant had to present a topic on science, maths or technology at his/her choice. The presentations were delivered in Romanian and lasted 3 minutes maximum. The presentations were not only correct and scientifically exciting, but also easy to follow for those not specialised in that area.
Participants able to present the topic in the most attractive manner for the audience had high chances for success!

FameLab 2011 final took place on 25 May 2011 in Bucharest. Bianca Cristian was the winner of this year's edition of FameLab in Romania.

Watch Bianca's presentation at the FameLab International Final:

Who were the finalists of the 2011 FameLab Romania?

The selected winners and their topics selected for the national final, after the regional heats organised in Iasi, Bucharest and Cluj-Napoca during April are:

The best contestants from the regional heats attended a free masterclass with British and Romanian experts on science communication on 16-17 April in Sinaia.

WHAT WERE THE PRIZES?

			1st prize: the winner represented Romania at the FameLab International Final (The Times Cheltenham Science Festival, 8-11 June 2011) and received the “Science and Technology Magazine Award” of 1000 euro offered by “Dinu Patriciu” Foundation .
			2nd prize: 500 euro, award given by Herman Oberth Association for Education and Science.
			Intel Science & Technology Award" of USD 1000 given by Intel to the project which made best use of technology to reach its purpose.
			The winners of the first, second, third places received four volumes set of the National Geographic edition collection History of the World given by the National Geographic magazine.
			The best contestants in regional heats had a free masterclass with British and Romanian experts on science communication.

See previous editions of FameLab in 2007, 2008 and 2009.

Videos from FameLab competitions that took place in the UK and other countries are available on: FameLab website, FameLab Youtube channel.

For further information, please contact Gabriel Ivan, Education & Science Projects Manager, British Council Romania at gabriel.ivan@britishcouncil.ro or subscribe to InBrief, our electronic newsletter, which will keep you updated!

FameLab 2011 is a science communication competition produced together with the Romanian Television.

National partners: Intel, “Dinu Patriciu” Foundation and the Ministry of Education, Research, Youth and Sport – UEFISCDI.
Media partners: Ziarul Stiintelor, Campus News, National Geographic Romania, 24 FUN, Radio Romania Cultural.
Supported by: Herman Oberth Association for Education and Science, Ad-Astra Association, National Authority for Science Research, University of Bucharest, "Babes Bolyai" University Cluj, "Alexandru Ioan Cuza" University Iasi.