Researchers’ Grand Prix is a Swedish competition that has been running annually since 2012. We challenge researchers to present their research in the most captivating, inspiring and educational way possible – in just four minutes! The audience and expert judges jointly decide on the winner.
Researchers qualify to the final round by advancing through regional heats, that take place in cities across Sweden (Lund, Stockholm and Umeå) as a part of the science festival ForskarFredag (European Researchers’ Night in Sweden). In addition, researchers can qualify for the final via an online contest – Researchers’ Grand Prix Digital.
Why the Researchers’ Grand Prix?
There are many situations in life where it is useful for researchers to know how to describe their research in a simple, concise and engaging way (e.g. applying for funding, working with journalists, interacting with the public, or at the dinner table with family and friends). Researchers participating in the contest are given training in rhetoric and stage performance (both in groups and individually), which has been much appreciated by the participants.
Background
The competition is inspired by the Norwegian Researcher Grand Prix, which in turn is developed from a concept created by the Center for Art and Science at the University of Southern Denmark in Denmark.
The Researchers’ Grand Prix is organised jointly by the Swedish non-profit organisation VA (Public & Science), the Swedish Research Council, the Swedish Research Council for Environment, Agricultural Sciences and Spatial Planning (Formas), the Swedish Research Council for Health, Working life and Welfare (Forte) and the Sweden’s Innovation Agency, VINNOVA.
