Applications for FameLab Northern Ireland are now closed
In 2015 Emer Maguire, a Clinical Anatomy student at Queen's University Belfast, won FameLab Northern Ireland. Since then, she's gone on to win FameLabUK, reach the international finals, and begin a career in science communication.
Her talks were based on the science of flirting and why we kiss.
Speaking about the competition, she said: “It’s helped me see that a career in science communication is a viable option, and in the future, I'd love to do something more performance-based where I can add music, as well as humour – but I’ll take it as it comes.
“I’ve met some really inspirational and wonderful people on my FameLab journey — especially at the international final where I got to meet people from all over the world. Because of the competition, I've already talked at numerous science festivals and the the first-ever TEDx event in Omagh — and will be back at the NI Science Festival for 2016!"
FameLab Northern Ireland is a joint initiative of British Council Northern Ireland, NI Science Festival and the Cheltenham Festival.
Globally more than 4000 individuals studying or working in STEM have taken part. The result is a vibrant network of exciting scientists and engineers engaging international audiences but also engaging with each other, broadening each other’s views of what it means to be working in science right now.
Held annually in over 20 countries in Africa, Asia, Europe and the United States, FameLab sees the top new voices from the world of science and engineering deliver short 3-minute pieces on bizarre and pertinent science concepts – anything from why men have nipples to how 3D glasses work. Presentations are then judged according to FameLab’s golden rule – the 3 Cs: Content, Clarity and Charisma.