22 February 2023. The Forrest Research Foundation has partnered with the Foundation for the WA Museum to support FameLab Australia 2023, the Australian division of the largest public-facing science communication and training program in the world.
With the shared goals of increasing the awareness of cutting-edge science in Australia and supporting ground-breaking scientific research and discovery in Western Australia, Forrest Research Foundation will support the Foundation for the WA Museum to deliver an immersive 3-day science communication experience for 12 national FameLab finalists in Perth in September 2023.
FameLab is the world’s leading science communication competition, created by Cheltenham Festivals (UK). Since 2007, the competition has gone global in over 40 countries, with more than 40,000 scientists participating to date. FameLab is recognised as being a powerful means to identifying and nurturing new voices in science, with previous alumni embarking on high-profile careers in science communication.
The Foundation for the Western Australian Museum has been the producer and country host organisation of FameLab Australia since 2014. 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 within five years of completing their postgraduate degrees. A total of 48 scientists will be shortlisted to compete in four regional, online semi-finals. Out of these, 12 finalists will be selected to travel to Perth for the live finals at WA Museum Boola Bardip on 21 September 2023. The Australian FameLab winner will receive the opportunity to represent Australia in the international FameLab final in November 2023. Applicants, semi-finalists and finalists will receive free, specialist science communication training at various points throughout the FameLab 2023 competition.
“The partnership with Forrest Research Foundation is based on a shared passion for science communication and the desire to maximise the impact that ground-breaking research and discovery can have when it is communicated effectively to broad audiences“, said the Foundation for the WA Museum’s CEO, Coralie Bishop. “We look forward to working with Forrest Research Foundation to deliver a memorable and invaluable experience for 12 talented young science communicators in Perth in September.”
Prof. James Arvanitakis, the Director of Forrest Research Foundation, commented, “Our mission is to attract outstanding minds to Western Australia to undertake high quality research to benefit the state and confront the world’s grand challenges. Supporting FameLab Australia 2023 is perfectly aligned with our mission to bringing outstanding young intellects to Perth. We look forward to hosting the 2023 FameLab finalists at Forrest Hall alongside our researchers while the finalists gain deeper insights into the science communication and global challenges.”
The Forrest Research Foundation joins current FameLab partners and donors The McCusker Foundation, Curtin University, Murdoch University, the West Australian Museum, the Western Australian Government through the Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science and Innovation, Community Broadcasting Foundation and Comm-it.
For more information about FameLab Australia 2023, visit https://support.fwam.com.au/famelab.
About Forrest Research Foundation
James Arvanitakis, Director of the Forrest Research Foundation
The Forrest Research Foundation funds high quality research with the potential to change the world. Since 2014, Andrew and Nicola Forrest have committed $130 million to the Foundation, establishing it as Australia’s largest endowment for doctoral and post-doctoral research. The Foundation provides scholarships and fellowships to outstanding intellects from around the world to conduct research at one of Western Australia’s five universities – The University of Western Australia, Murdoch University, Curtin University, Edith Cowan University and University of Notre Dame. It also supports scholars and fellows to collaborate and support each other through Forrest Hall, a scholar’s residence with 45 apartments built on the banks of the Swan River, adjacent the University of Western Australia.
For more information visit https://www.forrestresearch.org.au/
About the Foundation for the WA Museum
Coralie Bishop, CEO Foundation for the WA Museum. Image by Kelly Pilgrim-Byrne
The Foundation for the WA Museum aims to increase the cultural, scientific, educational and social impact of the Western Australian Museum and help secure its long-term financial sustainability. The Foundation does this by growing the funds under management in its Discovery Endowment Fund; obtaining direct funding support for specific WA Museum projects; and setting up a program of sustainable, regular grant giving that supports the strategic priorities of the WA Museum. The Foundation funding assists in supporting ground-breaking scientific research and discovery, securing major touring exhibitions, and acquiring new items for the Western Australian State Collection. The Foundation for the Western Australian Museum also is the producer of the science communication competition FameLab Australia and its junior version, FameLab Academy (currently run with secondary schools in Western Australia).
For more information, visit https://www.fwam.com.au/ or call (08) 6552 7474
