FameLab 2026: The winner has been announced

Dresden, 11 May 2026. Presenting science in a way that is understandable, creative and entertaining – this
was the challenge taken up by nine early-career
researchers on 6 May 2026 at the FameLab regional final in Dresden. In front of an audience of more than 130 guests
, the participants presented their research topics on stage at the Max Planck Institute for Molecular
Cell Biology and Genetics (MPI-CBG), each in just three minutes. The
competition was organised by DRESDEN-concept and Dresden Marketing GmbH (DMG).

 

First place went to Artem Govorukhin from the Helmholtz Centre Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR) with his presentation “No Oxygen + FLASH = Bye-Bye, Tumour!”. He also impressed the audience and was awarded the evening’s audience prize. Second place went to Urša Uršič from the MPI-CBG and Dresden University of Technology (TUD) with her presentation “How to be at the right place just in time? A story of a dividing embryo.” Both have thus qualified for the FameLab Germany final on 1 July 2026 at the Rudolf-Oetker-Halle in Bielefeld. There, they will compete against the winners of the other regional heats. In addition, they will receive prize money of 300 euros and 200 euros respectively, as well as a two-day communication and media training course.

 

DMG Managing Director Corinne Miseer is delighted with the exciting regional final: “In
Dresden, research is being carried out into the big questions of life, for each and every one of us. This is the
message that the two winners of our FameLab regional final will now also be spreading.
We wish them every success for the next round, the German final.”

 

Communicating science in an accessible and entertaining way

In the international FameLab competition, young researchers present their scientific
topics in a way that is accessible to a general audience and entertaining, without presentation slides and with a maximum speaking time of three
minutes. The only props allowed are those that can be carried onto the stage by the presenter themselves.
Entries are judged on scientific accuracy, clarity and
entertainment value.

The jury for the Dresden regional final consisted of:

• Marion Schmidt, Chief Communication Officer at TU Dresden
•; Prof. Gianaurelio Cuniberti, Professor of Materials Science and Nanotechnology at TU
Dresden
•; Prof. Silke Geithner, Rector of the Evangelische Hochschule Dresden (EHS)
•; Prof. Stefan Diez, Professor of BioNano Tools at TU Dresden

The evening was hosted by Katrin Boes and Markus Forytta.

 

Fascinating topics from research and science

This year’s presentations covered a broad spectrum of current research topics, ranging from
quantum physics and sustainable technologies to cancer research and embryonic development.
Participants included:
• Tanzila Nurjahan (TUD/HZDR) – “Breaching the barrier of nuclear waste management”
• Priyal Dadhich (HZDR) – “Single-atom devices for quantum technology”
• Maria Pavlou (TUD) – “Treating retinal degeneration: a transplantation approach”
• Lisa Nucke (HZDR) – “Does radioactivity make microbes sweat?”
• Moksh Bhateja (MPI-PKS) – “Quantum spins in a nutshell”
• Maud Zilbermann (HZDR) – “Radioanalytical chemistry for the decommissioning of nuclear power
stations”
• Berthy Kpiebaya (UNU-FLORES) – “The Hidden Life of Your Old Phone: Who Really Pays the
Price?”
• Artem Govorukhin (HZDR) – “No Oxygen + FLASH = Bye-Bye, Tumour!”
• Urša Uršič (MPI-CBG/TUD) – “How to be in the right place just in time? A story of a dividing
embryo.”

 

Dresden as a stage for science communication

FameLab was launched around 20 years ago by the Cheltenham Science Festival in the United Kingdom
and is now one of the world’s best-known science communication formats.
Dresden has been one of the competition’s regular host cities for several years and offers
young researchers a platform to make their topics accessible to a wide audience.
Further information on the competition: https://dresden-concept.de/famelab