Out of 25 contestants, 5 researchers in this year's edition of the FameLab contest are employees of the Jagiellonian University. They conduct their research in different academic fields: from genetics and biochemistry to neuropsychology and medical sciences to organic chemistry. They will compete with other 20 semi-finalists on Saturday, 28 February 2015 in the Copernicus Center in Warsaw.

Since its conception during the Cheltenham Science Festival in 2004, the FameLab contest has become one of the most important science communication events in the world. The partnership with British Council established in 2007 allowed FameLab to achieve global recognition. Throughout the last several years, it was organised in over twenty countries in the world. This edition will be the fourth one organised in Poland. The contestants will have three minutes to present their research subjects to the jury and the audience. If they are convincing enough, they will have a chance to win the grand prize.

This year, the committee accepted nearly 90 applications and selected 25 of them. The JU is represented by:

• Dr Szymon Drobniak – evolutionary biology, ecology, genetics;
• Dariusz Gogól – biological sciences, biochemistry;
• Dr Agata Kołodziejczyk – neurobiology, neuropsychology, astrobiology;
• Kinga Michalewska – medical sciences;
• Dawid Panek – medical chemistry, organic chemistry, biochemistry.

Ten finalists will be selected by the jury. They will compete on 25 April 2015. The winner will be awarded 30,000 PLN for their science projects and 5,000 PLN for any other expenses. The contestant who will receive the most votes from the audience will be granted a voucher for a course in English by the British Council. The winner will also represent our country in the international finals held in Cheltenham.