Alfie Named FameLab Regional Runner Up

FameLab Academy is a regional scientific communication competition FameLab, run annually by Cheltenham Festivals. Year 9 Pate's students compete for the cherished top spot to then go on and compete against ofhte schools. They prepare a three minute speech on a STEM topic of their choice, and perform it in front of their science class peers.

Our Science department was thoroughly impressed this year by the hard work that went into researching these speeches and the bravery of every single member of the year group to stand up and speak. The class heats put forward ten school finalists who competed against each other for a spot in the Regional Final. 

Congratulations to Alfie (Year 9), who was selected as our Pate’s FameLab Finalist and went on to compete at the Gloucestershire Regional Final, where he was awarded Runner Up.   

Alfie was invited to speak at 'The Next Generation of FameLab' at the Jetstream Stage on the Sunday of the Cheltenham Science Festival. He shares his experience here:

My speech was titled 'Talking Through Time' and it explored how human language has evolved over time, looking specifically at two key protolanguage theories and how they apply to our modern speech.

FameLab is the most fantastic experience for growing your own confidence as a speaker and as a person, mastering speech writing skills, and meeting a group of talented, like-minded pupils from across Gloucestershire. It gave me not only specific skills for this discipline, but a feeling that the future of science communication is in safe hands, and there is abundant  talent in our generation.

Being invited to speak at the Festival was certainly a memorable experience. We were treated just like the other guests of the Festival, which felt very prestigious, but it was particularly enjoyable as there was no judging, as there had been in previous rounds, so I could really enjoy performing. It was a tremendous opportunity with a thoroughly supportive crowd. The FameLab organisers are so generous in giving time and resources to run the competition and teach children about science communication, and that is invaluable.  My thanks to Miss Peddle for all her help in making this event happen at Pate's.