Project Details

Science Slam Twin City

About

Short Description and Goal

Science Slam is a fun event with a succession of rapid-fire presentations featuring original research results by young scientists – on stage in front of a live audience. It is a chance to let personality shine in a 10-minute performance. Slammers deliver an exciting and approachable version of otherwise complex research. And they compete for the hearts and minds of the audience, whose applause determines the winner! The Science Slam is an intelligent edutainment format that delivers the latest scientific results to a broad audience and therefore connects in a way no conference is able to deliver.

Detailed Description

During a Science Slam Twin City scientists from both cities deliver 10-minute talks on their own research results – in a way that is understandable as well as entertaining for a non-professional audience. Typically, these talks are about a broad range of topics, but the event can be more specific about a certain field of research, too, e.g. biodiversity or aeronautics.

The speakers compete for the favor of the audience, as in the end it comes to one of the most important parts of the show: the audience decides who is going to win by applause. This is a very important element of the show as it involves everyone, keeps everyone engaged to the very end and it is a surprisingly atmospheric finish for this entertaining event.

The show itself has low requirements: next to a location you need a computer to run the presentations, a projector, a screen and an audio system including microphones. A host will guide through the show, the computer needs to be operated and a small team for the entrance and other services are required as well. Audio and light technician should be provided by the location unless you have a professional in your team.

Speaking of which, the biggest chunk of work is acquiring the speakers and supporting them in preparing their talks. Participation in these coachings should be voluntary and free of charge, and they will increase the quality of the show significantly if those speakers have no prior experience in science slams. It would be ideal for the team to have a member experienced in training speakers, but it is no pre-condition.

Public Relations will play a bigger role in the preparations as well, including press releases, interviews and use of social media.

The event involves travelling for at least 2 till 3 speakers from your partner city. For them, this event is not a one-nighter but typically goes along with 3 or 4 nights in the hosting city. That allows networking with fellow ‘home’ speakers, getting acquainted with the partner city, visiting official events and offers the chance to work with a coach at least twice prior to the show.

Resources This Project Needed

Core-Team: 3+ in hosting city + support from partner city
Showtime: 5+ (including host)
Kick-off: 3months+ before the show
Time: several hours each week, with high demand during the final week

Learnings

Do’s:
Choose an alternative location like a pub or a bar
Find an additional speaker in case you loose another one
Confirm with every speaker they are presenting their own results
Do a detailed briefing for your host a few days prior to the show
Offer coachings to the speakers – it will make a difference
Perform a rehearsal the day before or during day of the show

Initiated by

  • Deutsch-Russisches Forum e.V. & policult, Berlin

Initiators are

• Public institution

Funded by

• Corporation(s)
• Foundations
• Federal or State Funds

Project Topics

Arts & Culture, Science

Level / Project Complexity /

Small

Sizes of Participating Cities

• 100.000 - 500.000
• 500.000 - 1,5 Mio
• more than 1,5 Mio

Project Region(s)

• Europe