Friday 5 June, 7.30pm Helix, Imperial Gardens at Cheltenham
Cherene de Bruyn
North West
Talk Title: Eye in the Sky: Using Drones to Locate Hidden Forensic Graves
Field of Study: Forensic Archaeology / Forensic Ecology / Remote Sensing
Loves: I love dogs, being in the outdoors, camping and braais/BBQs.
Not a fan of: Vegetables (especially the green ones), liquid diets (no way) and spiders (the only time I can run fast).
Describes themself as: Pastry-lover, enthusiastic and gritty Interest and hobbies: I love running . I like reading and music and I am teaching myself how to play the guitar.
Proudest moment so far: Making it this far in FameLab! I’m also proud to have worked as an archaeologist in both South Africa and the UK. Archaeology is far from glamorous and has also taught me to be resilient (digging in mud during a UK winter is no joke).
Fun Fact: When I was around four or five years old, I was accidentally bitten in the face by a family friend’s dog. I didn’t have a dog of my own until I was about eighteen, and it completely changed my life. I became a full-on dog person.
Fabia Hannan Mone
London
Talk Title: Who is Allowed to Refuse?
Field of Study: Medicine / Health and Disease, Public Health Nutrition
Loves: Family and connection, community support and collective action.
Not a fan of: Toxic environments, overwhelming settings and rigid norms.
Describes themself as: Curious, compassionate and driven. Interest and hobbies: I enjoy learning new skills and value quiet reflection. I unwind by listening to instrumental music and journalling, which helps me stay focused, reflective, and energised for my research and public health work.
Proudest moment so far: I am proud of the resilience I showed when I became the primary emotional and financial support for my family during the pandemic.
Fun Fact: I’m often told I seem serious at first; but that impression never lasts! Once you get to know me, I’m friendly, enthusiastic, and very chatty. This proof that first impressions don’t always tell the full story.
@fabscience
Hazel McPhillips
Fraser Birks
South West
Talk Title: Supercooled
Field of Study: Physics – Materials Science
Loves: Chickpeas
Not a fan of: Liquorice
Describes themself as: Easily distracted
Interest and hobbies: I like building things. Recent projects include: a face-tracking webcam mount, a safe that only one person CAN’T open and the beginnings of a modular analogue music synthesiser. I also like talking about science (obviously).
Proudest moment so far: In the summer before I started my PhD (2022) I wrote and performed my own solo science comedy show at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. The show called “Artificial Incompetence” aimed to dispel misconceptions about what was then the budding field of AI.
Fun Fact: I have a TikTok account where I sometimes make videos about things that I think are interesting! (@fabscience)
Hazel McPhillips Scotland
Talk Title: From Historical Horror to Healthcare Heroes
Field of Study: Medicine / Health and Disease
Loves: Halloween (all things spooky), music and caffeine. Not a fan of: Unkindness, inequality and wasps. Describes themself as: Curious, colourful and creative (a different 3 Cs).
Interest and hobbies: I am a musician, opera, flute, clarsach, piano, and more. It brings me joy. I have many pets, including giant African land snails. Tattoos.
Proudest moment so far: I am most proud of my resilience and determination whilst undertaking my PhD. During which I worked in a Covid ward, moved into academia, became a gran, and dealt with health issues. Fun Fact: I have several types of synaesthesia.
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Jean Monéger
South East
Talk Title: Heroes Can’t be Wrong
Field of Study: Psychology
Loves: Nuanced stories that explore complex moral questions rather than simple black-and-white worldviews. I like mushrooms, from the ugliest to the most elegant and I like the Basque Country, its food, culture, and mountains.
Not a fan of: Insomnia, mortality reminders and stale biscuits.
Describes themself as: Thought-provoking, playful and artsy.
Interest and hobbies: I collect hobbies... the main ones are: Science fiction, tabletop role-playing games, mushroom identification, music and bouldering.
Proudest moment so far: During my PhD, I created a 12-hour online course to increase awareness of the importance of controlling statistical error rates and adopting open science practices. This experience had a profound impact on the way I conduct research.
Fun Fact: I was voted “most rock-n-roll student” at my high-school. Although it might be hard to believe, back then I had long hair, and had performed a concert of Jimi Hendrix covers where I played the guitar with my teeth.
Laura Bond East of England
Talk Title: Stem Cells: New Tricks from Old Hips
Field of Study: Stem Cell Biology
Loves: Going to the theatre, taking a walk in the sun and exploring other countries.
Not a fan of: Waking up before 9am, cycling in the rain and orange juice.
Describes themself as: Determined, curious and spontaneous.
Interest and hobbies: My regular hobbies include muay thai, knitting and hiking.
Proudest moment so far: I’m proud of myself for completing my undergraduate degree part time, over 5 years, along side my full time work as a research laboratory technician.
Fun Fact: I want to try as many ‘unexpected’ hobbies and activities as I can. A couple of examples include glass lamp working and pistol shooting. I’ve signed up to try gliding next!
Morgan Batiste-Simms
North East
Talk Title: An Odyssey into the Chemical World of Sugar
Field of Study: Chemistry – Chemical Biology
Loves: I love to be outside amidst nature: sunbathing, gardening, and walking along the beach.
Not a fan of: I often joke that I am no better than a plant, and as such I am not a big fan of winters. The snowy weather, grey skies and early nightfall are my kryptonite!
Describes themself as: Eclectic, earnest and curious Interest and hobbies: Developing my skills as a writer: primarily poetry and creative nonfiction.
Proudest moment so far: Pursuing a graduate degree in Chemistry. I struggled in my chemistry courses as a high school student, but the grace of education is that you can come back to it regardless of your current life stage. Being here as a Black woman from Missouri City, Texas is the achievement itself I am most proud of.
Fun Fact: I don’t limit myself which has allowed me live a vast array of lives: I studied abroad for a year to learn Russian, I competed in State-level Latin competitions, I’ve been on TV, I’ve been an assistant to a Cowboy – with me, you never know what’s next!
Mutiat Afolabi
East Midlands
Talk Title: When DNA Speaks at Birth
Field of Study: Health Law and Bioethics – Genomics Loves: Supporting others and seeing them succeed. Not a fan of: Dwelling on problems without trying to find solutions and resistance to new ideas.
Describes themself as: Genuine, purpose-driven and resilient.
Interest and hobbies: Watching films across different genres. I also enjoy music and talent shows I have an interest in fashion and enjoy making and modifying clothes.
Proudest moment so far: My work supporting Black and Proud CIC by securing funding for its initiatives.
I have helped obtain funding that has supported aspiring solicitors facing financial and personal barriers, as well as community events that bring people together across different backgrounds and cultures.
Fun Fact: I enjoy singing, dancing, writing poetry and learning new languages. I currently speak English, Yoruba, and am developing my skills in Turkish, Arabic, and French.
Ryan McFadden Northern Ireland
Talk Title: How Engineers are Battling Bacteria
Field of Study: Engineering, Medicine / Health and Disease - Biomaterials
Loves: Weird animals – the lowland streaked tenrec makes really fun noises. Ru pauls drag race and A&W Root beer.
Not a fan of: Using weekends for chores, windy weather and buses/trains leaving early – crazy!
Describes themself as: Excitable, open and silly
Interest and hobbies: Crafts – I did a course on sewing recently. Online gaming with friends – currently playing Guild Wars. Casual sports – tag rugby.
Proudest moment so far: I’m really proud of my FameLab regional win! I really enjoy science communicaiton, it’s a bit of my passion to be honest. I have always aspired to be a science communicator. The competition was really tough at the FameLab NI finals so I feel very honoured to have been selected as a winner!
Fun Fact: I can quote about 80-90% of spongebob seasons 1–3.
Tony O’Sullivan Wales
Talk Title: Artemis
Field of Study: Astrophysics and Education
Loves: It’s always sunny in Philadelphia, swimming in the sea and walking on the beach
Not a fan of: Reality TV, spiders and heights
Describes themself as: Positive, passionate and motivated Interest and hobbies: Martial arts, observational astronomy, gaming and travelling
Proudest moment so far: Despite all the things I feel I’ve achieved, my proudest moment is something very subtle and one I can’t quite pin down the time of. Noticing that my children now talk about going to university as if it were a given. I was the first in my family to earn a degree, and seeing that change ripple into the next generation is, in the best possible way, overwhelming.
Fun Fact: When I was 11 I fractured my skull, falling from an outhouse roof. The last thing I ate before it happened was a packet of Supernoodles and after the accident, the very smell of Supernoodles would make me sick. I didn’t eat them again for over 15 years!
Compere Shirley Halse
Comedian/Host
Shirley is a comedian, writer and producer. She runs The Alternative Book Club and Cygnet Comedy in Cheltenham, as well as having performed at various festivals across the country including Green Man and the Edinburgh Fringe.
@shirleyhalse
Masterclass Trainer
Wendy Sadler
Science Communicator and Trainer for Science Made Simple
Wendy is the founding Director of Science Made Simple, an award winning Science Communication social enterprise working across the UK and internationally. Since 2002, the organisation has reached more than 1.3 million people in over 38 countries. Wendy was awarded an MBE for services to science and engineering communication in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List 2017 and has authored 19 science books. Wendy studied Physics & Music and is now an Associate Professor in science communication at Cardiff University, and Head of the Physics Education Research Group. She delivers public engagement and communications training for researchers, with a research focus on using role models to inspire young people, particularly girls, into STEM. www.sciencemadesimple.co.uk
LinkedIn: Wendy J Sadler
Media Trainer
Gillian Taylor
Media Trainer
Gillian is a freelance PR and marketing consultant, working with arts and cultural organisations in SW England and nationally. She delivers media training to help individuals and organisations present a positive image and tell important stories. She regularly prepares interviewees for media interviews, and has been interviewed many times for local, national and international news outlets. Gillian also delivers training in making films with a mobile phone, she runs PR and social media campaigns, and raises the profile of cultural projects and events. Before moving to the arts, she worked in conservation, and has a background in ecology.
Bluesky: @gilliantaylor.bsky.social
Facebook: @gilliantylorculture
Instagram: @gilliantaylorarts
LinkedIn: Gillian Taylor
