FameLab Australia 2026 – Applicant Information
Make 2026 the year you gain the skills to make your science research famous!
FameLab is the largest public-facing science communication training program and competition in the world.
The focus of FameLab Australia is to promote excellence in science communication for early career STEM researchers through quality training and public speaking skills development.
Why participate in FameLab 2026?
FameLab provides an ideal platform for early career researchers to tell a national and international audience about their work. It’s your opportunity to bring fame to your lab, showcase your research, represent your organization, and take your career to the next level by creating a profile as a quality researcher and trained communicator. The skills you’ll learn will assist you in a plethora of activities you’ll likely face in your career, from applying for grants, to public speaking at science events, to igniting the imagination of future scientists with presentations at schools.
The FameLab Australia 2026 winner will once again represent Australia at the FameLab International Final in front of a global audience online and will win a trip to Cheltenham Science Festival 2027.
The path to the FameLab final
There are four stages of FameLab Australia – written application, video submission, Australian semi-finals, Australian final. The winner of FameLab Australia will then compete in FameLab International and also earn a place at the Cheltenham Science Festival 2027 as their prize.
Stage 1: Apply for FameLab Australia 2026 by completing the online form.
Stage 2: All qualified applicants are able to attend an online science communication training workshop to help them prepare their first presentation – a 3-minute video submission.
Stage 3: The applicants chosen for the semi-finals from the video submissions receive additional science communication training provided by subject matter experts. Semi-finalists present online to a judging panel.
Stage 4: The finalists who are selected from the semi-finals receive additional Masterclass training as well as a free, immersive, 3-night science communication experience in Perth where they compete live on stage for the title of Australian FameLab Winner.
Scicomm training to advance your career
FameLab's science communication training is much more than training to help you win the competition and the prize of a trip to the Cheltenham Science Festival in 2027. FameLab aims to provide participants with lifelong communication skills. Along your journey to the final, you'll have in-depth workshops guided by our National Training Partner, you'll enjoy masterclasses from trainers and guest speakers and be guided in dealing with media and how to be interviewed.
As a finalist, you'll also be accommodated for three nights in Perth for intensive workshops covering topics to assist you in all future science communication, like presenting to camera, creating a personal brand on social media, and thinking on your feet to answer unforeseen questions.
Ready to take the step up in your scicomm abilities? Applications for FameLab 2026 close at 4pm AWST on Thursday 23 April 2026.
What you'll need to apply
Semi-finalists will be selected using their written applications and the video they submit after the initial science communication workshop.
To successfully complete the application form, you will need the following information:
- An overview / synopsis of your research (200 words)
- A short professional biography (200 words)
- Evidence of research/projects that you have undertaken. You will need to provide links and titles of any relevant sources of evidence. This may include publications, conference titles, conference posters or evidence of internal review from a director/dean/head of your organisation
- The details of a referee who can verify or comment on your research and results. This might be someone who has peer reviewed your work, a supervisor, a director or dean of your institution, or an employer.
The video submitted by applicants who wish to progress to the Semi-finals will need to comply with the following rules:
- The video must be no longer than three minutes. The content will not be judged after this time limit.
- or special effects are allowed
- No other people are allowed in the video
- Props are encouraged, but shouldn’t be excessive or detract from the presenter
- No background music – unless this is the subject of the presentation
- Videos will be judged according to the FameLab criteria of the three Cs: Content, Clarity and Charisma.
2026 key dates
| 2 April | Applications open at 9am AWST (online form submission) |
| 23 April | Applications close at 4pm AWST |
| 30 April | Qualified applicants notified and invited to online workshop |
| May 2026 (TBC) | Online workshop |
| 1 June | Deadline for 3-minute video submissions |
| 3 July | Semi-finalists notified |
| July 2026 | Series of online workshops for semi-finalists |
| 4 - 7 August | Regional Semi-finals (online) and finalists from each region selected |
| August 2026 | Online workshops for Finalists |
| 22 - 25 September | In-person workshops (Finalists travel to Perth for 3 nights). 25 September is return travel day. |
| 24 September | FameLab Australia National Final live at WA Museum Boola Bardip and winner of FameLab Australia 2026 announced! |
| October 2026 (TBC) | FameLab International Masterclass (online) |
| November 2026 (TBC) | FameLab International Final (online) |
| June 2027 | FameLab Australia winner attends Cheltenham Science Festival |
Need more information?
For FAQ, please see below. For more about FameLab International, the competition judging criteria, and the use of props, visit the FameLab page.
If you have a specific question, please contact famelab@museum.wa.gov.au
Terms, conditions and rules
All applicants need to read and agree to the terms, conditions and rules available here.
Ready to apply?
Frequently Asked Questions
Citizens and permanent residents of Australia, or international (non-citizen) researchers who can demonstrate a formal affiliation with an Australian institution, who are pursuing studies or working in a scientific field can apply. To qualify, you’ll need to be a student who is currently undertaking MSc or PhD qualifications or be a postdoctoral fellow or early-career researcher who has received a MSc or PhD degree within the last five years.
Yes, if you previously applied to FameLab you can apply again. Only people who have already been finalists are ineligible.
No, you will not be able to save your application and return to it later to complete it so please ensure you have all the necessary information to hand when completing the form (see What you'll need to apply section above).
Semi-finalists will be selected on two criteria: their written application and their video submission. The 3-minute video submission will only be required after attending the first online science communication workshop which will assist applicants to prepare their video presentation.
Due to the different time zones across Australia, there are usually four regional Semi-finals:
- Victoria,
- Western Australia,
- New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory/Northern Territory/Tasmania
- Queensland/South Australia
The make-up of these groups may change depending on the number of applicants from each state or territory and the judges availability.
The same judging criteria for all FameLab presentations apply globally for all contestants. Content, Clarity and Charisma (the three Cs of FameLab) are central for the identification of quality science communicators. Each contestant has a strict maximum time limit of three minutes for their presentation.
Content
The content must be scientifically accurate. If the chosen topic has controversy or uncertainty around it, the presentation must acknowledge the opposing views. The content also needs to be presented in a way that is understandable to a non-specialist, general public audience.
Clarity
Clarity is critical to effective communication. The structure of the presentation is important, as well as the need to ensure that the judges and the audience can follow the talk and are left with a greater understanding of the scientific concepts chosen.
Charisma
The audience and judges should be left inspired and enthused about science. The presenter needs to present their authentic self and their passion for their topic. The winner will have that hard-to-describe but unmistakable quality of charisma and will be the person who makes science easy to listen to, entertaining and exciting.
At each stage, all applicants will be notified about whether or not they progress to the next round. WA Museum will communicate with applicants using the email address and mobile number they submit in their application form.
WA Museum selects judging panels to ensure the highest standards are achieved in FameLab. Panels can consist of a range of experts and personality types, including science communication experts, prominent and highly respected scientists, and journalists and media personalities.
Finalists will receive free flights, accommodation and meals to attend an intensive science communication workshop, networking events and the live, in-person FameLab Final event. Finalists will be expected to book and pay for their own flights and accommodation and will be reimbursed by the WA Museum.
The 2026 FameLab Australia winner will represent Australia at the FameLab International Final which is preceded by additional science communication training. They will also receive a free trip to the world-renowned Cheltenham Science Festival 2027. The prize will include flights to the UK, tickets to events, accommodation, meals and travel within the UK. The winner will also have the opportunity to network with scientists from around the globe. More information on FameLab International can be found here.
Program Partners
