Talking Science competition opens, SASJA supports communication efforts

Hailed as 'Pop idols for scientists', the competition originated at the Cheltenham Science Festival in 2005 and has spread to include 25 countries. Young scientist contestants have 3 minutes to explain a science concept using only what they can carry onto the stage with them - and no PowerPoint!

The aim is to encourage young scientists (21-35) to talk about their work - improving their communication skills to public (or non-science) audience - critically important where science and technology affects the whole of society. The competition also seeks out new spokespeople for science to inspire a new generation of scientists and challenge public perceptions about what it means to be a scientist.

International trip prize

Registration is open for the competition, with the regional heats beginning next week in Johannesburg (21 February at SciBono Discovery centre), Durban (26 February at the KZN Science Centre) and in Cape Town (28 February at the Cape Town Science Centre). Those who cannot make the regional heats can also enter by uploading a video to the FameLab site before 15 February.

Finalists win prizes and attend the FameLab master class before competing in the national final at Scifest Africa in Grahamstown on 15 March. The winner of the national competition receives a R10 000 grand prize and an all-expenses paid trip to represent South Africa in the international final at Cheltenham in the UK.

For registration forms, more information and tips on how to impress the judges visit www.britishcouncil.org.za/famelab.

The competition is an initiative of Cheltenham Festivals. The British Council and independent science communication agency, Jive Media Africa, supported by the South African Agency for Science and Technology Advancement (SAASTA) run it in South Africa.

Science communicators called on to encourage scientific writing

SASJA represents science communication professionals, from journalists, artists and broadcasters to public relations practitioners, liaison staff and spokespeople - anyone with an interest in promoting the communication of science.

As a vast subject, science can include the environment, health, nutrition, information technology, to astronomy, biology, chemistry, computers and all points in between and the association is encouraging more communicators to join it in its activities.

As the only organisation that promotes the interests of science communicators in South Africa, it has a number of very exciting projects in the pipeline. It is looking at setting up a blog to debunk 'bad science' in the media, creating a jobs portal (including internships and study opportunities), offer communication networks between scientists and the public and is bidding to host the 2015 World Science Journalist Congress in Cape Town.

For more information, go to www.sasja.org or email Thea at az.oc.ajsas@rotartsinimda.