FameLab - Talking Science Science in 3 minutes
FameLab preliminary round in Dresden on May 6, 2026
In the FameLab science competition, young scientists have 180 seconds to explain their own research topic to the audience and a high-caliber jury. Factually correct, entertaining, and captivating. During the three-minute presentation, the only aids allowed are those that the speakers themselves can carry onto the stage. There are no limits to creativity!
Register to participate
The application period for Dresden runs until March 31, 2026.
If there are a large number of applications, we reserve the right to make a preliminary selection!
The rules
- Master’s students, doctoral candidates, and researchers aged 21 and above are eligible to participate in FameLab Germany.
- There are no restrictions on the choice of topic, whether it be medicine, computer science, social work, or political science.
- Any creative aids that the speakers can carry onto the stage themselves are permitted. Only PowerPoint presentations are prohibited.
Free tickets for the preliminary round in Dresden
May 6, 2026 FameLab preliminary round in Dresden
6:00 p.m.
Lecture hall at the Max Planck Institute for Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics
Pfotenhauerstraße 108, 01307 Dresden
The prizes
1st prize
- €300 prize money
- Participation in a two-day communication and media training course in Bielefeld (June 12 + 13, 2026)
- Participation in the FameLab Germany final in Bielefeld (July 1, 2026)
2nd prize
- €200 prize money
- Participation in a two-day communication and media training course in Bielefeld (June 12 + 13, 2026)
- Participation in the FameLab Germany final in Bielefeld (July 1, 2026)
Audience award
There will be an audience award. Vote live on the evening of the event and choose your favorite!
The jury
We were able to recruit experts from the fields of science and culture to serve on the jury, who will decide at the end of the event who will receive the 1st and 2nd prizes and thus be sent to the national final in Bielefeld.
The jury consists of:
- Marion Schmidt, Chief Communication Officer (CCO) at Dresden University of Technology
- Prof. Svetlana Smertin, Professor of Rhythmics and Elementary Music Education at the Dresden University of Music Carl Maria von Weber
- Prof. Gianaurelio Cuniberti, Professor of Materials Science and Nanotechnology at Dresden University of Technology
- Prof. Stefan Diez, Professor for BioNano Tools at Dresden University of Technology
FameLab is an international competition for science communication initiated by the Cheltenham Science Festival in the UK and has also been held annually in Germany since 2011. In over 20 countries, FameLab brings scientists to the stage under the motto “Talking Science.” Dresden is the venue for the East German preliminary round. The 2026 event is being organized by DRESDEN-concept and Dresden Marketing.
