Famelab

The UCL Public Engagement Unit works to embed public engagement into University life, and to nurture a culture of researchers and academics engaging in a two-way exchange ofthought, knowledge and expertise with people outside the University. To ensure sustainability of our approach, we work with existing organisations to train staff and find new opportunities for them to engage. We also fund projects proposed by UCL staff and our partner organisations that develop new approaches to engagement, whether that is by working with new audiences, by involving staff and subjects who don’t usually engage, or by finding new ways to engage in greater depth.

Background to Famelab

Famelab, the international science communication competition, began in the UK in 2005. Since then, through partnership with the British Council, the competition has spread around the world. In 2007 to 2009, FameLab competitions were run in nine countries in South-East Europe and, in the last two years, the winners have journeyed to the Cheltenham Science Festival to compete in the FameLab International Final.

This initiative was aimed at early-career researchers at UCL. Training was provided to ten UCL researchers who were interested in entering the competition. First, they attended a one-day communications training course, provided by stand-up comedy trainer Logan Murray, then shortly before the London regional heat of FameLab, they were given further training and support in an afternoon rehearsal session with comedian Robin Ince.

Aims

The Beacon wanted to promote the culture of public engagement as a valued and recognised activity for staff at all levels, and looked to this initiative as a way of extending its networks within UCL and with external partners, to ensure that those involved in public engagement felt supported and able to draw on shared expertise   

Did it succeed?

It’s still early on in the programme, but the intention was to give participants confidence in their communication skills and provide them with a group with whom they could discuss their public engagement plans. Since FameLab and the training, the individuals involved have been contacted with ideas about future projects: they continue to discuss public engagement ideas and meet one another without input from the public engagement team.