EVALUATION REPORT - Foundation for the WA …...her place alongside extraordinary research talent. As we commence planning for 2020, we thank our FameLab Partners: Woodside Energy,

1CREATOR INTERNATIONAL PARTNER

PRODUCER AUSTRALIA

NATIONAL PARTNER

EVALUATION REPORTFameLab Australia 2019

2 EVALUATION REPORT FAMELAB AUSTRALIA 2019

TABLE OF CONTENTSMESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTOR 2 AUSTRALIA

MESSAGE FROM THE CHIEF 4 EXECUTIVE OFFICER

FAMELAB AUSTRALIA 2019 6

CALL TO ENTRY 10

SEMI-FINALS AND 13 TRAINING SESSIONS

NATIONAL FINAL MASTERCLASS 14

FAMELAB SCHOOLS PRESENTATION 15

FAMELAB NATIONAL FINAL EVENT 18

FAMELAB NATIONAL WINNERS 20

POST FAMELAB VIP EVENT 22

FAMELAB INTERNATIONAL 24

FAMELAB PROMOTION 26

SOCIAL MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS 28

SEMI-FINALIST SURVEY RESULTS 30

COMMUNICATION TRAINING 32

QUEENSLAND SEMI-FINAL 34

VICTORIA SEMI-FINAL 35

NEW SOUTH WALES SEMI-FINAL 36

WESTERN AUSTRALIA SEMI-FINAL 37

FAMELAB WINNERS AND FINALISTS 38

APPLICANT DATA 44

WOMEN IN STEM 45

SCIENTISTS IN THE MEDIA 46

MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS 48

ABOUT THE BRITISH COUNCIL

The British Council is the UK’s international organisation

for cultural relations and educational opportunities. We

work with over 100 countries in the fields of arts and

culture, English language, education, and civil society.

Last year we reached over 65 million people directly

and 731 million people overall including online,

broadcasts and publications. We make a positive

contribution to the countries we work with – changing

lives by creating opportunities, building connections

and engendering trust.

britishcouncil.org.au

ABOUT THE FOUNDATION FOR THE WESTERN AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM

The Foundation for the Western Australian Museum is

the producer for FameLab Australia. The Foundation

has been committed to securing the future of our

state heritage since 1995. Our role is to cultivate and

develop relationships with individuals, organisations,

and community groups who understand the critical role

that museums play in society to create a thriving WA

Museum. We assist in delivering engaging community and

educational programs, support ground-breaking scientific

research and discovery, source funding for touring

exhibitions, and acquire new items for our state collection.

fwam.com.au

The information presented herein has been sourced and prepared for general information for intended partners only. While every effort has been made and all reasonable care taken to ensure the accuracy of the information contained in this document, the information should not be used or relied upon for any specific application without investigation and verification as to its accuracy, currency, completeness, suitability and applicability be any person. The British Council, the Foundation for the Western Australian Museum, and all its members do not give warranties or make any representations in relation to the information provided herein and to the extent permitted by law (a) will not be held liable or responsible in anyway and (b) expressly disclaim any liability or responsibility for any loss or damage, costs or expenses incurred in connection with this limitation, including loss, damage, cost and expenses incurred as a result of the negligence of the officers, employees, consultants, contractors, authors, editors or publishers. © British Council 2019. All rights reserved.

THANK YOUWe are very proud of the partnerships that have enabled FameLab to grow since 2014 in Australia. Partnerships are the cornerstone of our business model.

The British Council and the Foundation for the Western

Australian Museum would like to thank all our FameLab

supporters. The success of the programme is reliant on

the strength of our partners.

We acknowledge the support and imagination of the

organisations and individuals who are helping to build

FameLab into Australia’s most popular national science

communication competition.

Founding Partner University Partners

Civic Partner Education Network PartnerNational Venue Partner

Major PartnerCreator International Partner Producer Australia National Partner

State Venue Partners Media Partner

Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science and Innovation

GOVERNMENT OF

WESTERN AUSTRALIA

WA Presenting Partner


MESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTOR AUSTRALIABRITISH COUNCIL

Building our capacity to interpret and engage the public with new discoveries and technologies is crucial. Innovation, climate change, artificial intelligence and the fourth industrial revolution are all now central to public discourse, and science communication is key to helping us navigate this rapidly changing world.

Through FameLab we are giving audiences the chance to

hear about new discoveries that could change our lives.

This year 49 scientists stepped outside their laboratories

and on to the FameLab stage, to share their research,

jargon-free and in three minutes. Our 2019 Australian

winner Dr Paola Magni posed the intriguing question —

what do shoes, barnacles and crime scenes have

in common?

Paola is finding revolutionary tools for underwater

investigation, bringing new witnesses to life – ‘colonising’

plants, plankton, animals and little creatures like barnacles.

This research has global application in investigating

criminal cases, using science for justice and closure

for families.

Paola wowed the judges and brought this innovative

Australian forensic research to the global stage at the

International FameLab Final at the Cheltenham Science

Festival in the UK. She competed against world class

scientists from 25 countries including South Africa, the

Netherlands, Thailand and Korea. We’re so proud of

Paola’s achievements and look forward to seeing more of

her work as an up and coming scientific voice in Australia.

FameLab has gone from strength to strength in Australia

over the past five years, growing rapidly and reaching an

engaged audience. We’re particularly proud of Australia’s

strong track record at an international level, with the past

four winners of the Australian competition making it to

the Cheltenham Festival International FameLab Final and

two landing the Global Runner Up Award. All of the past

four Australian winners have been women, an incredible

achievement for Australian women in Science, Technology,

Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).

MESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTOR AUSTRALIA 3

This year, we were delighted to build on a long-term

relationship with the Foundation for the Western

Australian Museum, who became our Producing Partner

for FameLab. We are excited to see them grow the

programme further, develop more emerging science

communicators and engage more young Australians

with science.

The British Council has over the years supported thousands

of STEM researchers to take part in FameLab, providing

science communications training and experience while

promoting university research collaboration, women

in STEM, student mobility and internationalisation of

education. We cannot do this without loyal partners,

trainers, compères and judges.

Most importantly, thank you to the Australian FameLab

2019 participants. We can’t wait to see more FameLab

talent in the years to come.

Helen Salmon

Director Australia

British Council British Council Director in Australia, Helen Salmon.


MESSAGE FROM THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICERFOUNDATION FOR THE WESTERN AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM

In 2019, the Foundation for the Western Australian Museum is thrilled to produce FameLab Australia with our Key International Partner, the British Council and our National Partner the Western Australian Museum. We are proud to build on the work of the British Council over the previous five years.

We embrace with passion and enthusiasm the opportunity

to build the profile of science in our community.

We believe that nothing speaks louder to this goal than

celebrating the voice of scientists on the main stage of

the State Theatre Centre of Western Australia. Scientists

must have a place, front and centre, in our public

conversations to solve problems, discover the new and

advance a better world for all of us.

In modern knowledge-based economies, it is vitally

important to tell the story of scientific research equally,

alongside the long-established cultural stories and

collections of Australian museums. Scientists must stand

alongside artists within our major cultural institutions.

Our determination to achieve this national goal is

strengthened by our network of museum venue

Foundation for the Western Australian Museum, Chief Executive Officer, Jenny Allen.

MESSAGE FROM THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER 5

partners in Queensland, Victoria and New South Wales.

We thank our colleagues at Queensland Museum,

Melbourne Museum and the Museum of Applied Arts and

Sciences for your commitment and contribution to this

national goal within the international structure of FameLab

in partnership with the British Council.

We introduced the FameLab Roadshow touring

Queensland, Victoria, New South Wales and South

Australia. We met with leaders in the tertiary, government

and corporate sectors. This has enabled us to establish

an engaged network of science and innovation leaders

on the East Coast aligned with the commitment of our

Western Australian partners.

FameLab is a much-loved event in our calendar with our

audiences. We consistently receive audience feedback

that people are inspired by learning what scientists

are discovering and the problems that researchers are

seeking to fix in order to make our world a better place.

At 2019 FameLab events across Australia, we once again

saw a representation of research disciplines. A theoretical

physicist performed alongside a marine biologist, next

to a forensic scientist, along with medical researchers,

mathematicians, engineers and biologists amongst

FameLab contestants. ‘Inspiring’, ‘Passion’, ‘Awesome’,

‘Life Affirming’, ‘Making a Difference’, ‘Changing the World’.

These are some of comments in the foyer after a night at

a FameLab event.

Alec Coles OBE, CEO, Western Australian Museum, and I

travelled in June to Cheltenham to support our Australian

National Finalist, Dr Paola Magni. A forensic scientist with

Murdoch University, Paola competed with finalists from

around the globe. We celebrated and cheered as Paola

secured a place in the FameLab International Final, taking

her place alongside extraordinary research talent.

As we commence planning for 2020, we thank our

FameLab Partners: Woodside Energy, McCusker Charitable

Foundation, Curtin University, Edith Cowan University,

Murdoch University, the University of Western Australia,

Australia’s Science Channel and the Department of Jobs,

Tourism, Science and Innovation for their continued

support to increase the profile of the extraordinary

work of our early career researchers and scientists. We

welcome our new partners at the City of Perth, the State

Theatre Centre and the Fogarty Foundation to our journey.

Most of all we thank the FameLab contestants, STEM early

career researchers, past, present and future, for making a

positive difference to the future of Australia and the world.

Jenny Allen

Chief Executive Officer

Foundation for the Western Australian Museum


FAMELAB AUSTRALIA 2019

HISTORY OF FAMELAB IN AUSTRALIA

FameLab is the world’s leading science communication

competition owned and created by Cheltenham Festivals,

UK. A partnership with the British Council since 2007

has seen the competition go global in over 30 countries,

with more than 10,000 young scientists and engineers

participating to date. The British Council has been

producing FameLab in Australia since 2014.

In 2019, The Foundation for the Western Australian

Museum became Producer of FameLab Australia,

delivering the competition in this country with the

British Council as the Key International Partner.

Initially, Alec Coles OBE, CEO, Western Australian Museum

and Professor Lyn Beazley AO, formerly Chief Scientist of

Western Australia, approached the British Council to bring

FameLab to Australia, and worked with them to secure

key founding partners. The Western Australian Museum

is the National Partner alongside the Founding Partner

McCusker Charitable Foundation and our Major Corporate

Partner Woodside Energy.

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 who are within

five years of completing their postgraduate degrees.

FameLab includes an international training programme

designed to equip researchers to advocate their work to

industry, employers and grant bodies, inspire future STEM

students and engage the general public.

“The FameLab semi-final in Queensland was a wonderful night, hearing some of the brightest minds explaining their science research in an entertaining way. I was amazed by the talent in the room.

Good science communication skills are vitally important. We need scientists to be able to educate the community and we need a scientifically-literate public so we can all play a role in solving the global grand challenges as well as seizing the great opportunities that the solutions will provide.”

Professor Paul BertschQueensland Chief Scientist

ABOUT THE COMPETITION

Contestants are given three minutes to present their

research on stage in an original, entertaining way,

while following the two cardinal rules of FameLab: no

jargon and no PowerPoint. Props, song, and dance,

however, are allowed and even encouraged, making this

a warm and exciting presentation.

FameLab participants prove their science communication

prowess, network with international experts and meet next

generation STEM leaders. FameLab is recognised as being

a powerful tool in identifying and nurturing new voices

of science, with previous alumni developing careers in

science communication.

More broadly, science communication skills are

essential in competing for research grants, and for

young innovators in the accelerator and start-up arena.

Effective science communication has the potential to alter

stereotypes, create excitement and interest, and ultimately

promote public funding for scientific research. FameLab

Australia has a focus on STEM in recognition of the role of

research to drive innovation and economic prosperity for

contemporary economies.

FameLab equips a new generation of science advocates

to work with industry and government as well as engaging

young Australians to take up STEM subjects and careers.

Partnerships enable FameLab Australia to achieve impact

nationally through semi-finals in Queensland (QLD),

New South Wales (NSW), Victoria (Vic) and Western

Australia (WA). The 2019 National Final was held in WA at

the State Theatre Centre.

The programme received enthusiastic endorsement

across a diverse range of media and achieved significant

reach via social media channels such as Instagram,

LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook.

The National Final was live-streamed by Australia’s

Science Channel. The individual presentations are

available online as a resource for future applicants and

to ensure an ongoing impact at:

australiascience.tv/theme/famelab/


CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Merilena De Mayo at the semi-final in NSW; Sathana Dushyanthen at the semi-final in Vic; Kit Prendergast at the National Final; Thimo Ruethers at the National Final.

FameLab Australia semi-finals were held at four key national institutions:

1. Queensland Museum, Brisbane

2. Melbourne Museum, Melbourne

3. Museum of Applied Arts and

Sciences, Sydney

4. Western Australian Maritime

Museum, Perth

“[It is an] incredibly tough job judging between these incredible scientists to choose who would represent Australia at FameLab International. I’m glad I didn’t have to make the call! Celebrating #FameLabAus winner and I can’t wait to see how much the world loves @doc_magni’s research at the #FameLab Internationals as she represents Australia!”

Professor Alan Duffy via TwitterAstrophysicist at Swinburne University

of Technology, and Lead Scientist,

Australia’s Science Channel

87SUBMISSIONS

Nationally from PhDs and early-career researchers.

49COMPETED

Early career STEM researchers competed.

13FINALISTS

Participated in the National Final, held at the State Theatre Centre of Western Australia on the mainstage of the Heath

Ledger Theatre.

1NATIONAL WINNER

Travelled to the Cheltenham Science Festival in the UK to represent Australia.

2CORE TRAINERS

Emma Donnelly and Dr Emma Beckett,

together with special guests including Dr Karl Kruszelnicki, developed and delivered training

sessions at the semi-finals.


1250+PEOPLE

Attended FameLab events across Australia.

1½MASTERCLASS

Delivered by FameLab International Trainer,

Dallas Campbell, at the National Final.

DAY

THE FAMELAB AUSTRALIA SCHOOLS PRESENTATION WAS HELD AT THE STATE THEATRE CENTRE IN PERTH.


CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Semi-final audience in NSW; FameLab participants in NSW; semi-final audience in WA; Christian Blauth at the semi-final in Vic; semi-final audience in NSW.


CALL TO ENTRY

FameLab was soft launched online to stakeholders on Monday 26 November 2018. Applications opened on Monday 7 January and closed on Friday 15 February, 2019. During this time, the British Council and the Foundation for the Western Australian Museum managed a call-to-entry campaign that directly targeted those in the early stages of their careers working in STEM.

In the sixth year of FameLab in Australia, the call-to-entry

campaign in 2019 was strategically aligned to build on

FameLab’s existing network of research institutions in the

tertiary, industry and community sectors.

In 2019, the British Council, the Foundation for the

Western Australian Museum and our Media Partner,

Australia’s Science Channel, actively promoted the

call-to-entry campaign through the development and

distribution of innovative digital content. The British

Council developed and ran an additional influencer

campaign targeting alumni and universities, and a social

advertising campaign on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Partnership outreach tactics included:

� Q & A sessions at tertiary institutions in WA.

� Directly contacting supporters, alumni and friends

of FameLab to enable these network connections to

reach out to researchers.

� Direct approaches to Deans of Science and the

Heads of Schools from a number of key Australian

universities.

� Direct communication with STEM institutes, such as

CSIRO, Offices of the Chief Scientists in WA, NSW,

Vic and QLD, Australian Nuclear Science and

Technology Organisation (ANSTO), Australian

Regenerative Medicine Institute (ARMI), National

Australia Bank, Inspiring Australia, SAS Analytics.

� Targeted electronic mail-outs.

� Driving reach through partners’ communications

networks and activities, such as web content, social

media and newsletters.

� Dedicated FameLab microsite on the British Council

website and an event/information website hosted by

the Foundation for the Western Australian Museum.

� Our Media Partner, Australia’s Science Channel

produced short promotional videos that were shared

by the Foundation directly with tertiary organisations,

research institutes and early career researchers.

� Amplification of FameLab message on social media

by using the hashtag #FameLabAus.

Additionally, a Project Executive based in Melbourne

worked directly with East Coast based research

institutions to drive business development. The FameLab

Project Director and Project Executive worked with the

British Council Director, Helen Salmon, to implement the

FameLab Roadshow format in February 2019. Meetings

were held directly with senior stakeholders to build the

depth and breadth of research submissions for FameLab.

The desired outcome of the FameLab Roadshow was

to build relationships with key influencers within the

sector in seeking feedback on ways to grow FameLab

in future years.

CALL TO ENTRY 11

APPLICATION PROCESS

Applicants to FameLab were able to register via an

online form hosted on the Foundation for the Western

Australian Museum website. Applicants were asked

to put forward their research topic, presentation title,

presentation synopsis and provide a short video

of themselves presenting their research. To ensure

the reliability of the research, each application was

reviewed by an external science advisor. A FameLab

microsite was hosted by the British Council to provide

information, that directly linked to the Foundation for

the Western Australia Museum website.

TOP TO BOTTOM: Semi-finals in NSW; contestant at the semi-final in NSW; semi-final judging panel in WA: Alec Coles, Professor Lyn Beazley and Professor Steven Tingay.


“The Emmas were fantastic and for me the training was the best part of the experience.”2019 FameLab Contestant

SEMI-FINALS AND TRAINING SESSIONS 13

SEMI-FINALS AND TRAINING SESSIONS A shortlist of applicants were chosen from across the country and invited to participate in one of four semi-finals.

Semi-finals were held over March and April at prominent

institutions across four Australian states: Queensland

Museum in QLD; Melbourne Museum in Vic; the Museum

of Applied Arts and Sciences in NSW; and the Western

Australian Maritime Museum in WA.

At each semi-final, the participants presented to a live

audience which included members of the general public,

the science community, as well as a panel of esteemed

judges. The judges included media professionals, STEM

communicators and British Council representatives.

Each event was compèred by a prominent personality.

The presentation events represented a significant

aspect of FameLab, along with the professional and

development training that the participants undertook prior

to performing on stage. Each participant took part in a

day-long training session that aimed to build skills in body

language, communication and networking.

FameLab is more than a science communication

competition, it is a network of scientists dedicated to

developing a more holistic sense of public engagement.

Built into the format of FameLab is an opportunity for

scientists to improve discrete communication skills and

participate in public engagement training. The FameLab

trainers are dedicated to helping scientists foster

excitement about science in the general public, build

trust in the scientific community, and reframe how people

think about certain issues.

“I want to learn how I could use my communication skills to potentially unlock doors and barriers to other sectors including the media, policy, government, education and philanthropy.”

2019 FameLab ContestantPre-Training Survey Response

TRAINING PARTNER

Our training partner, Comm-it, brought together a

community of professionals who are experts in public

relations, marketing, writing, journalism, education,

training, events and strategy – all with expertise

in science.

Emma Donnelly, Founder, and Dr Emma Beckett,

Researcher and Science Communicator, provided a

day-long training programme that included sessions

on developing a social media and media profile, stage

presence, voice control, timing, and how to present to

different audiences. Guest trainers included Jonti Horner

(QLD), Jenny Martin (Vic), and Dr Karl Kruszelnicki (NSW).

“The calibre and engagement levels of participants was extremely high and it is motivating to see the future of Australian Science in such capable and enthusiastic hands!”

Dr Emma BeckettScientist and Science Communicator Trainer, Comm-it

Vic semi-final contestants.


NATIONAL FINAL MASTERCLASS DALLAS CAMPBELL, INTERNATIONAL TRAINER

13 standout participants were chosen from the semi-final events to take part in the FameLab National Final at the State Theatre Centre of Western Australia. The finalists received a day and a half of intensive presentation training with FameLab International Trainer, Dallas Campbell.

Dallas is a broadcaster who presents some of the UK’s

most popular factual TV programmes, including The

Gadget Show, Bang Goes the Theory, The Sky at Night,

Stargazing Live and The Science of Stupid. He has

presented documentaries, which include Supersized Earth,

the aviation series City in the Sky, and Britain Beneath

Your Feet, revealing the awesome scale and wonder of

our man-made world. Over the years Dallas has given

audiences a backstage pass to some of the planet’s

most extraordinary stories, people and locations.

For Dallas, science is not just a subject, it is an adventure.

He has a life-long passion for understanding how the

world works and for exploring our relationship with

science, technology and engineering – past, present

and future.

“Dallas provided fantastic training, precisely because it provided skills which were not standard - being present on stage, which we definitively do not learn in science.”

2019 FameLab National Contestant

“Dallas is an amazing trainer, knowledgeable and not arrogant, happy to teach and share, bubbly personality and easy going.”

2019 FameLab National Contestant

Media training with Dallas Campbell, International Trainer.


FAMELAB SCHOOLS PRESENTATION

For three consecutive years, secondary school students in WA were invited to enjoy the FameLab experience. The National Finalists presented their research to over 100 students and their teachers from four schools on the morning of 9 May. Students were given an opportunity to take to the stage and to act as inquisitive judges.

The FameLab Schools Presentation took place on the

mainstage of the State Theatre Centre, where many

of the students had never visited the venue before.

The schools program incorporated two women as STEM

role models from Woodside Energy, who were featured

in a ‘This is My Life’ presentation. This section was to

highlight positive role models for women in industry and

research careers after pursuing a STEM education path.

In 2019, a new education network partnership with

the Fogarty Foundation enabled the FameLab Schools

Presentation to connect more directly with students from

diverse backgrounds. The Foundation for the Western

Australian Museum and the Fogarty Foundation hosted

an education round table discussion with a group of

dedicated science teachers and principals working

with students from diverse and low socio-economic

backgrounds prior to the National Final at the State

Theatre Centre. These dedicated STEM educators

attended the National Final as VIP guests of the

Foundation for the Western Australian Museum and the

Fogarty Foundation, and networked with the national

finalists and judges at the VIP event.

FameLab national finalists at the Schools Presentation.


“The Western Australian Museum is a place of

both cultural story-telling and science. We have a

dedicated team of researchers that have contributed

to scientific endeavour in Western Australia, that

provide solutions to contemporary challenges.

We are passionate about communicating these

outcomes and stories to the public and promoting

public engagement with research. This is why in

2019 we have increased our support of FameLab

to become a National Partner.”

Alec ColesCEO, Western Australian Museum

“In the face of these challenges, it is crucial to

effectively communicate the benefits of STEM

and make it relevant, inspiring, accessible and fun.

Famelab does all of these things…. Initiatives such as

FameLab play such an important role in building this

STEM culture and providing real-world role models

that can connect with and inspire young people

and a diverse range of others in the community. I

appreciate the fantastic work undertaken by all of

you in sharing your passion and communicating your

science to the world.”

Hon Dave Kelly MLAMinister for Water; Fisheries; Forestry; Innovation and ICT;

Science; Government of Western Australia

“Women and science have been

on my mind this week, as we mark

200 years since the death of Mary

Anning, one of the greatest fossil

hunters the world has ever known….

Despite her considerable scientific

achievements, Anning received

no recognition within her lifetime.

In the nineteenth century, fossil

hunting – and indeed science

in general – was considered a

‘gentlemanly’ pursuit, reserved

for men of the educated upper

classes…. Reflecting on Anning’s

story, I think we are fortunate to

be living at a time when there are

such exciting opportunities open

to young people considering a

career in science – no matter what

their background. I am proud of the

British High Commission’s support

of FameLab, and commend the

British Council on the partnership

they have built with the Museum of

Western Australia and Foundation

to make this very special event

happen.“

Her Excellency, Vicki TreadellCMG, MVO, British High Commissioner to Australia

DISTINGUISHED GUESTS


“FameLab was a great experience and I’m so

happy to be a part of it.”

Rebecca WellardPhD Candidate, Centre for Marine Science and

Technology, Department of Physics, Curtin University

“FameLab was an unforgettable experience and my

trip to Perth was so great, friends, mentor, people,

everything was just so great. “

Hossein TavassoliPhD Candidate of Biomedical Engineering, Swinburne

University of Technology; Adult Cancer Program, Faculty

of Medicine, Lowy Cancer Research Center, UNSW, Sydney

FAMELAB CONTESTANTS

“The whole experience was a blast! I’d also like to put my hand up to

help out in any future FameLabs. I loved getting up on stage, but I also

miss being part of the ‘behind the scenes’ action.”

Amanda Tauber PhD Candidate, Center for Urology Research, Bachelor of Biomedical Sciences

(Health Science Hons); Faculty of Health Science & Medicine; Bond University


FAMELAB NATIONAL FINAL EVENT

The FameLab National Final took place at the State Theatre Centre of Western Australia. Thanks to our new venue partner, contestants performed on the main stage of the Heath Ledger Theatre. This theatre is usually reserved for resident companies, including Black Swan State Theatre Company and Barking Gecko Theatre Company. This is important recognition, ensuring scientists are equally celebrated in our major cultural institutions, alongside our cultural story-tellers.

Approximately 600 people attended the event to

support the 13 finalists tread the boards on the main

stage. The contestants showcased their wits, confidence,

communication skills and charisma, all in three minutes.

The event was live-streamed on the web by our media

partner, Australia’s Science Channel.

THE 2019 FAMELAB AUSTRALIA NATIONAL FINALISTS WERE:

1. Hayley Teasdale, University of Canberra

The ball to prevent falls.

2. Amanda Tauber, Bond University

Slamming the breaks on metastatic cancer.

3. Thimo Ruethers, James Cook University

The deadly danger of crocs on the plate.

4. Catriona Nguyen-Robertson, The Doherty

Institute, University of Melbourne

Exercise can take your immune system for a ride.

5. Dr Dwan Price, Deakin University

Nuts and Guts.

6. Sathana Dushyanthen, University of Melbourne

The double-edged sword.

7. Samuel Bladwell, University of New South Wales

A new spin on electronics.

8. Dilan Seckiner, University of Technology Sydney

Forensic gait analysis: CCTV image quantification.

9. Hossein Tavassoli, Swinburne University of

Technology and University of New South Wales

Mending the broken hearts using micro and

nanotechnology.

10. Rebecca Wellard, Curtin University

Eavesdropping on killer whales.

11. Kit Prendergast, Curtin University

Flowers to keep the native bees buzzing.

12. Etienne Rastoin-Laplane, Curtin University

What’s fishy about the Galapagos?

13. Dr Paola Magni, Murdoch University

Crimes, critters & clues.

The National Final evening was compèred by

Professor Alan Duffy. The judging panel comprised

of Professor Barry Marshall AO, Nobel Laureate; Helen

Salmon, Director Australia, British Council; John Curtin

Distinguished Professor Steven Tingay, Astrophysicist

and Executive Director, International Centre for Radio

Astronomy Research.

FAMELAB NATIONAL FINAL EVENT 19

DISTINGUISHED GUESTS INCLUDED:

� Professor Lyn Beazley AO, Former Chief Scientist

of Western Australia

� Annie Fogarty AM, Executive Chairperson,

Fogarty Foundation

� Hon Dave Kelly MLA, Minister for Water; Fisheries;

Forestry; Innovation and ICT; Science

� Hon Malcolm McCusker AC CVO QC

� Mrs Tonya McCusker AM

� Nev Power, Chairman, Foundation for the

Western Australian Museum

� Steve Scudamore, Vice Chair, Trustee,

Western Australian Museum

� Dr Luke Smith, Chief Environmental Scientist,

Woodside Energy and Adjunct Professor, Ocean

Institute at The University of Western Australia

� Her Excellency Vicki Treadell CMG, MVO British

High Commissioner to Australia

� Rhys Williams, Mayor, City of Mandurah

FOGARTY FOUNDATION EDUCATION NETWORK:

� Adam Brooks, Teacher, Mother Theresa Catholic College

� Alysia Fogliani, Teacher, St Norbert College

� Stella Jinman, Principal, Cecil Andrews College

� Rebecca Loftus, Program Director, EDfutures,

Fogarty Foundation

� Jemma Sadler, Teacher, Mother Theresa Catholic College

� John Townley, Teacher, Cecil Andrews College

� Jenefer Wiltschut, Teacher, CBC Fremantle

TOP TO BOTTOM: National Final at the State Theatre Centre; Welcome to Country, Irene Stainton; Dr Paola Magni and Helen Salmon at the National Final.


FAMELAB NATIONAL WINNERS

Dr Paola Magni from Murdoch University was announced as the FameLab National Final Winner and Audience Choice for 2019. Winning over the judges and the audience, Paola dived into the world of underwater crime investigation, asking how do you reconstruct the events of crime and identify the culprit when water washes the evidence away?

Paola’s research is finding revolutionary tools for

underwater investigation, bringing new witness to life –

‘colonising’ plants, plankton, animals and little creatures

like the barnacle. The presence and activity of these

organisms can help investigators reconstruct and identify

how long a body has been in water and track the location

of the crime scene.

This research has global application as it can be key to

investigate criminal cases – using science for justice and

closure for families.

Hayley Teasdale from the University of Canberra took

home the Runner Up prize at FameLab Australia 2019

for her presentation on how new technology developed in

Australia can help rehabilitate suffers

of Parkinson’s disease.

An estimated 10 million people worldwide suffer from

Parkinson’s disease. Many who suffer from the disease

report losing their confidence in their own home due to a

lack of balance. Hayley’s research brings hope, in the form

of a ball, for these sufferers.

“It’s a huge privilege to be able to represent Australia at the International FameLab competition. We have world class scientists and science communicators in this country and being able to share the wonder of science with people is an amazing experience.”

Dr Paola Magni, Murdoch University2019 National Final Winner and Audience Choice

FAMELAB NATIONAL WINNERS 21

Hayley Teasdale, FameLab 2019 National Runner Up, with Dr Paola Magni, FameLab 2019 National Winner and Audience Choice.


POST FAMELAB VIP EVENT

After the National Final the FameLab team, participants and partners proceeded to the main Foyer Bar at the State Theatre Centre to network and celebrate.

TOP TO BOTTOM: Professor Barry Marshall with Professor Lyn Beazley; Dr Marina Hogan with Nev Power; Rebecca Loftus with members of the Fogarty Foundation Education Network.

POST FAMELAB VIP EVENT 23

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Alec Coles, Dave Kelly, Her Excellency, Vicki Treadall, Helen Salmon, and Jenny Allen; Steve Scudamore and Anne Last; Catriona Nguyen-Robertson, Samuel Bladwell, and Amanda Tauber; Kit Prendergast with guests; Professor Alan Duffy and Dr Luke Smith; Rebecca Wellard with guests.


FAMELAB INTERNATIONAL

The 2019 Cheltenham Science Festival was a six-day celebration of science and a rare opportunity for the public to come face-to-face with some of the world’s leading scientists. Throughout the festival, audiences were joined by some of the world’s greatest scientists, big thinkers and comedy geniuses to help us answer some pretty big questions.

FameLab has been a pivotal part of the Cheltenham

Science Festival since 2005. It has since grown into the

world’s leading science communication competition,

running across every continent in the world except

Antarctica. The British Council teamed up with Cheltenham

Festivals in 2007 and runs the competition globally.

Over 10,000 researchers have taken part in the

competition across the globe.

FameLab International featured winners from Australia,

Bangladesh, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Egypt,

Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Korea,

Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Mauritius, Netherlands, Poland,

Portugal, Romania, Qatar, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland,

Thailand, and the UK.

There were three International FameLab semi-finals and

a subsequent grand final, which was held in front of a

packed audience on 6 June. Eleven grand finalists were

selected including Australia’s Dr Paola Magni.

The International finalists performed to a live audience,

with the event being live-streamed to an international

audience via YouTube. The competition was judged by

Dr Beth Healey, a Medical doctor who formerly worked

in Antarctica at Concordia Station, and at the European

Space Agency; Professor Mark Lythgoe, the Founder and

Director of the Centre for Advanced Biomedical Imaging,

University College London; and Dr Aarathi Prasad, a

Research Associate at the Institute of Global Health,

University College London.

Tim Gordon, a marine biology PhD student from the

UK won the 2019 FameLab International Final competing

against 24 other science communicators from across

the world.

Tim is a PhD student in the bioscience department at the

University of Exeter. His winning presentation focused

on the impacts of climate change on coral reefs, and

research ‘listening’ to and recording the sounds of a reef

to help protect the beauty and value of ocean ecosystems

in the Great Barrier Reef. He convinced the judges,

through his engaging presence on stage, fine storytelling

skills and his clarity of content, and also won over the

audience at the Cheltenham Town Hall to secure the

Audience Prize. This is the first time a UK representative

has become the FameLab International Winner since the

competition went global through a partnership with the

British Council in 2007.

FAMELAB INTERNATIONAL 25

“This is a really amazing competition for making international links. As the world moves forward, we are seeing that our problems are becoming more global, so our solutions need to become more global. Engaging people with environmental science has never been more important - thank you to FameLab for helping me learn how to do it.”

Tim Gordon FameLab International Winner 2019

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Alec Coles, Dr Paola Magni and Jenny Allen at the International semi-finals; Dr Paola Magni competes in the FameLab International Final; FameLab International finalists; Tim Gordon, FameLab International Winner 2019.

Courtesy of Cheltenham Science Festival




FAMELAB PROMOTION

MEDIA STRATEGY

In 2019, the British Council and the Foundation for the

Western Australian Museum adapted the media strategy

to better meet the needs of contestants based on survey

feedback and learning over the previous five years.

The British Council developed a media strategy to

increase the level of top-tier media interest for the

National Finalists. These top-tier media outcomes are

represented as highlights. The Foundation for the Western

Australian Museum worked more closely with the tertiary

sector and research institute media departments to

embed long-term media outcomes within the FameLab

contestants existing professional networks. The adapted

media strategy is designed to build a stronger foundation

for ongoing media support over the long-term career

of scientists and researchers within organisations as an

outcome for contestants.

DIGITAL HIGHLIGHTS

In 2019, the British Council and the Foundation for the

Western Australian Museum alongside the National Media

Partner, Australia’s Science Channel introduced a social

media influencer strategy to activate deeper engagement

with FameLab scientists. The influencer strategy was

supported by bespoke social media engagement training

with FameLab Contestants provided during semi-final

rounds, by our science communication training provider,

Comm-it. The outcome of this partnership strategy

increased social media engagement across all British

Council social media networks from the prior year,

with increased traffic to the British Council’s FameLab

microsite.

The 2019 FameLab programme was promoted via

the FameLab Australia website (famelab.org.au)

and the Foundation for the WA Museum website

(fwam.com.au/project/famelab/); the British Council and

the Foundation for the Western Australian Museum social

media platforms (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram

and associated LinkedIn); the digital platforms of

participating and partner universities and institutes;

through the networks of previous FameLab Alumni; and

through the networks of our media partner Australia’s

Science Channel.

The National Final was live streamed by Australia’s

Science Channel on 8 May 2019. Following this, individual

participant videos were created by the Science channel

and shared via a playlist on the Australia’s Science

Channel website and on YouTube.

OVER

4,098People watched the FameLab International live-stream and

recorded video versions on FameLab YouTube and Facebook.

644,842 Organic impression across the British Council and the Foundation for

the Western Australian Museum social media channels

2,604Views of the videos on

Australia’s Science Channel

12,076Number of unique users of the FameLab website

16,337Number of page views

on the FameLab website

2,214Number of page views on the

Australia’s Science Channel website

*Statistics from January 2019 to June 2019. References: Google analytics, Meltwater, Australia’s Science Channel analytics, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram analytics.

FAMELAB INTERNATIONAL

FAMELAB AUSTRALIA*

FAMELAB PROMOTION 27


SOCIAL MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS

SOCIAL MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS 29


WHAT DID YOU HOPE TO GET OUT OF FAMELAB?

Experience presenting to a general audience

Very Important Important

Nice to have

Public presentation/ performance/ speaking skills


Nice to have

Skills in translating my research into a story


Nice to have

Skills to talk to the media


Nice to have

Exposure for my research


Nice to have

Skills to further my career as a science communicator


Nice to have Not Relevant

To meet and network with peers


Nice to have Not Relevant

SEMI-FINALIST SURVEY RESULTS

18 14

11

7

16

17

12

7 9

10

12

10

8

9

2 4

4

7

2

1

1

2

6

SEMI-FINALIST SURVEY RESULTS 31

TRAINING: HOW WOULD YOU RATE THE FAMELAB TRAINING PROVIDED AT THE SEMI-FINALS?

Positive

Yes, absolutely Yes, mostly

Not really

Inspiring


Not really

Challenging


Not really

Informative


Not really

Relevant to my needs


Not really Not at all

Personally beneficial



Professionally beneficial



20 6

12

15

11

3

9

5 19

12

9

15

14

17

2 1

1

3

1

2

1

10

1

Note: This survey was for all participants of the semi-final training programme. Twenty seven out of forty nine participants responded to the survey.


COMMUNICATION TRAINING PLEASE RANK IN ORDER OF WHAT YOU CONSIDER TO BE THE BIGGEST BENEFITS OF PARTICIPATING IN FAMELAB:

ITEM RANK TOTAL SCORE

Building new skills as a science communicator

The network of peers I have met

Confidence in talking about my work

The experience of performing in front of a public audience

Acquiring a better understanding of how to work with media

1

2

3

4

5

104

94

87

54

51

Semi-final in QLD. Semi-final in Vic.

COMMUNICATION TRAINING 33

FAMELAB CONTESTANTS: POST-TRAINING FEEDBACK SURVEY

“It was a fantastic event to be part of, in particular, I found the training provided was excellent. It gave me an insight into how to navigate the changed landscape that we as science researchers must navigate if we are going to effectively translate our research into the public space. It was inspiring to be part of the night, and see science come to life in so many different disciplines as each presenter spoke.”

“FameLab was a really positive experience - everyone was so extremely supportive in that environment. It was a lot fun!”

“Thank you very much for organising FameLab in Australia, it was an amazing experience to be part of it and a great event to promote the importance of science.”

Semi-final in NSW. Semi-final in WA.


QUEENSLAND MUSEUMWednesday 20 March 2019

QUEENSLAND SEMI-FINAL

PARTICIPANTS

1. Dr Yanni Chin, University of Queensland

Discovery of painkillers from animal venoms.

2. Rebecca Webb, James Cook University

Frogs fight back.

3. Thimo Ruethers, James Cook University


4. Dr Oyungerel Byambasuren, Bond University

Can an app a day keep the doctor away?

5. Nadya Panagides, Australian Institute for

Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, University

of Queensland

Skimming the pool of antibody possibilities.

6. Amanda Tauber, Bond University


7. Abbi Scott, James Cook University

A grassy feed on the Great Barrier Reef.

8. Dr Paula Lima, CSIRO

Rethinking the use of freshwater: towards an eco-

guilt-free farmed salmon.

9. Dr Yuri Shendryk, CSIRO

How to reduce fertilizer run-off from sugarcane farms

into the Great Barrier Reef?

10. Mutah Musa, Queensland University of Technology

Algae dewatering for biofuels production.

11. Hayley Teasdale, University of Canberra


FAMELAB TRAINERS

� Emma Donnelly, Founder, Comm-it

� Dr Emma Beckett, Science Communicator

and Scientist

EVENT MC

� Cathy Levins-Byres, Author, Place Activator

JUDGES

� Helen Salmon, Director Australia, British Council

� Professor Paul Bertsch, Queensland Chief Scientist

� Dr Jim Thompson, CEO, Queensland Museum

Judges at the semi-final in QLD.

VICTORIA SEMI-FINAL 35

MELBOURNE MUSEUM Wednesday 27 March 2019

VICTORIA SEMI-FINAL

PARTICIPANTS

1. Christian Blauth, University of Melbourne

Nanoparticles in smartphone.

2. Catriona Nguyen-Robertson, The Doherty

Institute, University of Melbourne


3. Dr Jarmon Lees, St Vincent’s Institute of Medical

Research

Taking stem cells into the third dimension.

4. Dr Jennifer Payne, Monash University

New drugs for superbugs.

5. Sathana Dushyanthen, University of Melbourne


6. Dr Lars Esser, CSIRO

Finding a cure for brain cancer.

7. Dr Dwan Price, Deakin University

Nuts and Guts.

8. Dr Antonija Grubisic-Cabo, Monash University

‘Tuning’ 2D materials for new computers.

9. Dr Semonti Bhattacharyya, Monash University

Using atomic Lego blocks to create future electronics.

10. Dr Helen Brooks, Monash University

How do you “weigh” unstable particles?

11. Sarah-Lena Reinhold, Adelaide University

Seal poo insides and insights.

FAMELAB TRAINERS



and Scientist

EVENT MC

� Natasha Mitchell, Science Journalist and Presenter,

ABC Radio National

JUDGES

� Dr Ken Walker, Senior Curator of Entomology,

Melbourne Museum

� Jordan Green, Founder, Melbourne Angels

� Dr Leonie Walsh, Former Victorian Lead Scientist

Vic semi-final Runner Up Catriona Nguyen-Robertson withJordon Green.


POWERHOUSE MUSEUM, MUSEUM OF APPLIED ARTS AND SCIENCESWednesday 10 April 2019

NEW SOUTH WALES SEMI-FINAL

PARTICIPANTS

1. David Hinwood, University of Canberra

Biomimetic technologies for fabric manipulation.

2. Fiona Panther, University of New South Wales

Canberra

What your fruit bowl and our Galaxy have in common?

3. Genevieve Sergeant, University of Sydney

Fluorescent probes for phospholipids.

4. Eden Robertson, Kids Cancer Centre, Sydney

Children’s Hospital

Delta: Supporting families making a clinical trial

decision for their child with cancer.

5. Georgina Falster, University of Adelaide

Leaving a trail.

6. Jasleen Kaur Daljit Singh, University of Sydney

Targeted cancer therapy using DNA origami.

7. Debora Monego, Australian Centre of Excellence in

Exciton Science, University of Sydney

Interactions between nanoparticles.

8. Marilena DeMayo, University of Sydney

Oxytocin for Autism.

9. Samuel Bladwell, University of New South Wales


10. Katie Sizeland, Australia’s Nuclear Science and

Technology Organisation

Revealing the nanostructure of one of nature’s

building blocks – collagen.

11. Dilan Seckiner, University of Technology Sydney


12. Hossein Tavassoli, Swinburne University of

Technology and University of New South Wales

Mending the broken hearts using micro and

nanotechnology.

13. Jodie Wills, Macquarie University

Conditioning for combat: the weight of war.

FAMELAB TRAINERS



and Scientist

EVENT MC

� Dr Karl Kruszelnicki, (Dr Karl), Author, Science

Communicator

JUDGES

� Alison Wares, Director Communications and

External Affairs, Museum of Applied Arts and

Sciences

� Dr Chris Armstrong, Director, Office of the NSW

Chief Scientist and Engineer

� Dr Vanessa Pirotta, 2018 FameLab Australia

Winner, Runner Up FameLab International

WESTERN AUSTRALIA SEMI-FINAL 37

WESTERN AUSTRALIAN MARITIME MUSEUM Wednesday 17 April 2019

WESTERN AUSTRALIA SEMI-FINAL

PARTICIPANTS

1. Danica Hendry, Curtin University

Stress, sleep, dance, repeat.

2. Gordana Dermody, Edith Cowan University

Health-assistive smart homes to help older people

age-in-place.

3. Kit Prendergast, Curtin University


4. Dr Paola Magni, Murdoch University


5. Dr Rina Wong, Edith Cowan University

Fight against malaria.

6. Kelli MacMillan, Murdoch University

Why can’t I bond with my baby?

7. Dr Janessa Pickering, Telethon Kids Institute

Preventing sore throats in kids.

8. Daniela Scaccabarozzi, Curtin University

Masquerading as pea plants: mimicry in an

Australian orchid.

9. Etienne Rastoin-Laplane, Curtin University


10. Rebecca Wellard, Curtin University


11. Jayden Greenwell-Barnden, University of Western

Australia

A new approach to human-automation-interaction.

12. Venkata Ravi Sankar Cheela, Curtin University

Secret life of waste.

13. Erchuan Zhang, University of Western Australia

Action recognition.

FAMELAB TRAINERS



and Scientist

EVENT MC

� Russell Woolf, Breakfast Presenter, ABC Radio Perth

JUDGES

� Alec Coles OBE, CEO, Western Australian Museum

� Professor Lyn Beazley AO, Former Chief Scientist

of Western Australia

� Professor Steven Tingay, Astrophysicist and

Executive Director, International Centre for Radio

Astronomy Research

Audience at the semi-final in WA.


FAMELAB WINNERS AND FINALISTS

Dr Paola Magni Murdoch University


WINNER AND AUDIENCE CHOICE

Dr Paola Magni is a forensic biologist with key focus

on the application of natural sciences to crime scene

investigation. A researcher and lecturer in forensic

science, with experience as an expert witness on cases

of homicide, suspicious death, animal cruelty/wildlife and

food forensic. Paula is the developer of “SmartInsects”, the

App designed to facilitate police and pathologists

at crime scenes.

Hayley Teasdale University of Canberra


RUNNER UP

Hayley Teasdale is a neuroscientist, studying new

techniques for the rehabilitation of Parkinson’s disease

symptoms at the University of Canberra. Inspired by her

research, she has founded a company which has created

a balance training device that can be used in the home

in the hope of preventing falls. She is passionate about

equality of opportunities in STEM disciplines and an

advocate for the power of diverse teams for research and

innovation.


Samuel BladwellUniversity of New South Wales


Samuel Bladwell was born and raised

in Sydney, and spent his youth torn

between fine arts and physics.

Eventually physics won out. Samuel

completed his undergraduate degree

at the University of New South Wales

in Physics, with stints at Australian

National University and the University

of Copenhagen in Denmark.

His primary interest at the time was

in high energy physics, the kind

of stuff they do in supercolliders.

Samuel has been working in

condensed matter physics and

completed his PhD in 2018.

Sathana Dushyanthen University of Melbourne


Sathana Dushyanthen completed

her PhD through the University

of Melbourne. Having developed

a strong desire to be an educator

and lecturer from the first day of

University, she has a passion for

science education. Now Sathana

is intertwined within the University

system and is slowly seeding her

innovative ideas about traditional

lecturing and online education.

She is currently developing a

Master of Cancer Sciences.

Catriona Nguyen-RobertsonThe Doherty Institute, University of Melbourne


Catriona Nguyen-Robertson is a

PhD candidate at the Peter Doherty

Institute for Infection and Immunity.

She also works as a science mentor

at the Gene Technology Access

Centre, engaging with students

through In2Science and Young

Scientists of Australia. She is a

Science Communications Officer

at the Royal Society of Victoria and

Convergence Science Network, an

Associate Writer at Scientell, and

part of the National Science Week

Victorian Coordinating Committee.


Kit PrendergastCurtin University


Kit Prendergast is a native bee

researcher from Western Australia.

She is currently doing a PhD at

Curtin University, under a Forrest

Research Foundation Scholarship,

an international scholarship of which

only three entrants are awarded

per round. Kit has a passion for

the natural world and gets a real

buzz when going out in the field to

conduct native bee surveys.

Dr Dwan Price Deakin University

Nuts and guts.

Dr Dwan Price completed her

PhD at Deakin University. During

her honours research she studied

the effects of digestion on peanut

allergens where she discovered that

after a gastric or intestinal digestion

peanut allergen stuck together,

forming super-allergens. She is

currently a Postdoctoral Research

Fellow at Deakin AIRwatch.

Etienne Rastoin-LaplaneCurtin University


Etienne Rastoin-Laplane is a young

French marine scientist with a sharp

interest for Marine Protected Areas,

fisheries management and global

sustainability issues. Before starting

his PhD, he spent three years in

the Galapagos, working within the

Charles Darwin Foundation marine

programs. His passion for this iconic

archipelago led him to return to

academia to contribute to its

long-term conservation.

Thimo RuethersJames Cook University


Thimo Ruethers is currently studying

his PhD at James Cook University,

aiming to improve the management

of fish allergy in Australian children

and patients worldwide. Since 2015,

he has been involved in the research

of other food allergies, contributing

to a better quality of life for allergy

sufferers, their friends and relatives

worldwide.


Dilan SeckinerUniversity of Technology Sydney


Dilan Seckiner is currently a final

year PhD candidate at UTS within

the science faculty. Dilan’s research

focuses on forensic gait analysis,

specifically, morphometric body

assessment with associated CCTV

image distortion quantification.

Dilan is part of a team of experts,

(university and police forces), who

conduct research at the Australian

Facility of Taphonomic Experimental

Research. Dilan has presented

research at various national

and international conferences/

symposiums.

Amanda TauberBond University


Amanda Tauber is studying her

PhD in Medicinal Chemistry at Bond

University. Originally from Auckland

in New Zealand, Amanda moved to

Australia eight years ago to finish

high school and continued to live

on the sunny Gold Coast ever since.

For as long as she can remember,

Amanda has loved understanding

how the world works and the small

beautiful details that bring it all

together.

Hossein TavassoliSwinburne University of Technology and University of New South Wales

Mending the broken hearts using micro and nanotechnology.

Hossein Tavassoli is a PhD candidate

in Biomedical Engineering. His

research lies at the interface of

materials engineering and stem

cell biology. Currently, at the Lowy

Cancer Research Centre, Sydney, he

studies heart development on-a-chip.

Hossein is also keen on the design

of micro/nano engineered platforms

that model organs physiology and

diseases on microchips.

Rebecca WellardCurtin University


Rebecca Wellard has over 10

years’ experience in researching

marine megafauna and has been

involved in numerous cetacean

research projects both in Australia

and worldwide, focusing on various

research areas such as cetacean

bioacoustics, population ecology,

genetics and anthropogenic effects.

She commenced her PhD in 2015

with a focus on the communication of

Antarctic and Australian killer whales.


CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Dr Dwan Price; Etienne Rastoin-Laplane; Her Excellency, Vicki Treadell; Samuel Bladwell; Sathana Dushyanthen; Dilan Seckiner; Catriona Nguyen-Robertson; Dave Kelly.


CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Hayley Teasdale; Dr Paola Magni; FameLab contestants at the National Final; Alec Coles.


APPLICANT DATA

Key survey results from all applicants of FameLab in 2019.

16% 18-24

63% 25-34

19% 35-44

2% 45-54

5% ACT

24% NSW

18% QLD

2% SA

27% Vic

24% WA

35% Bachelor/Hons 31% MSc

34% PhD

34% Male 66% Female

Age

Location Gender

Degree Level

WOMEN IN STEM 45

WOMEN IN STEM Famelab has an extraordinary track record in promoting the achievements of women in STEM in Australia, maintaining an exceptionally high participation rate by women (66%). In the six iterations of FameLab Australia, four women have won the national competition – Erinn Fagan-Jeffries (2016), Nural Cokcetin (2017), Vanessa Pirotta (2018), and Paola Magni (2019).

The National Winners have gone on to compete against

finalists from over 30 countries at the global competition

in the UK. For the fourth year in a row, an Australian

woman in STEM – Dr Paola Magni— aced the heats at

the Cheltenham Science Festival to secure a place in the

FameLab International Final.

FameLab aligns with Australian government priorities

in science and science education. Australian women

continue to be significantly unrepresented in STEM

research careers. The Women in STEM Decadal Plan,

produced by the Australian Academy of Science, was

released in March 2019. Six opportunities for change

were identified that will build the pipeline of women

participating in STEM research. The report identified

visibility as a priority focus.

Priority 4: Visibility: You can’t be what you can’t see.

“Seeing women in diverse STEM careers, and equally represented in the media, in public events, and in other forums like boardrooms and classrooms will provide role models for girls and women and inspire a nation.”

Priority 4 – 2019 Women in STEM Decadal PlanAustralian Academy of Science

“As an engineer, I am passionate about science, technology, engineering and maths, and increasing the number of girls and women in STEM subjects and roles…. Increasing the public visibility of women role models is key to changing cultural attitudes and inspiring more young women and girls to study, work and champion gender equity in STEM…. The work of these amazing ambassadors will complement that of Australia’s first Women in STEM Ambassador, Professor Lisa Harvey-Smith.”

Hon Karen Andrews MPMinister for Industry Science and Technology

Member for McPherson, Queensland

FameLab contestants celebrate with Dr Paola Magni and Hayley Teasdale.


SCIENTISTS IN THE MEDIA

Part of the FameLab experience involves learning how to speak to the media about science. In 2019 the Foundation for the Western Australian Museum and the British Council sought to build more direct relationships between researchers and the media teams within the research institutes to promote an environment of ongoing support over time for early career researchers.

FAMELAB PRE-TRAINING SURVEY

Many of the researchers who participated in FameLab

have expressed nerves and the desire for ongoing

support in talking to the media. The feedback was

provided in the pre-training survey as a consistent theme.

“I also haven’t had experience talking about my work to the media, which I assume is quite different to talking to a lay audience in general - it would be good to get advice on this.”

“Understanding of what the media needs so as not to sensationalise research results.”

“The media is the bridge between the researcher and the public and FameLab is a great way to train researchers to communicate their research effectively firstly to the media, and finally to the general public, who usually has limited access to that information.”

FAMELAB PARTICIPANT FEEDBACK

SCIENTISTS IN THE MEDIA 47

FAMELAB PARTICIPANT POST-TRAINING SURVEY

The FameLab Project Executive worked directly with the

media teams within the FameLab contestants’ tertiary or

industry organisation to enable a direct link. The benefit

of this deeper network connection between early career

researchers and an existing media team is designed to

benefit the researchers over the longer term, through the

FameLab competition.

“As a result of Famelab I was approached by Natasha Mitchell (MC at semi-finals) about getting some radio exposure for my research. Being a semi-finalist also triggered me to develop a Twitter account and to be an active Twitter user, as a result of this I’ve been approached for different Mentoring opportunities. I learnt about branding myself and have expanded my PhD outcomes to include the development of an animation.”

“The key is building an alliance between media and researchers and that will only occur through exposure, and a willingness from both parties to understand and learn about each other. I think within the universities the media team should be targeted, because when PhD or Doctoral students are approaching graduation, and/or publishing their papers, they should be provided with guidance about how to communicate their research into the community (e.g., suggestion of other avenues or whether it is appropriate to contact any media sources). The experience of then successfully communicating this early research might assist the student in then continuing the same approach as an early career researcher.”

TOP AND OPPOSITE: Media training with Dallas Campbell, International Trainer.


MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS

MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS 49


CONTACTMelissa CallananProject Director FameLab, Foundation for the Western Australian Museum

E [email protected] M 0401 648 534

Jenny AllenCEO, Foundation for the Western Australian Museum

E [email protected] M 0402 045 413

Documents

EVALUATION REPORT - Foundation for the WA …...her place alongside extraordinary research talent. As we commence planning for 2020, we thank our FameLab Partners: Woodside Energy,