News

Kickstarting an award winning public engagement career

I didn’t really know much about public engagement before taking part… I’m a Scientist really inspired me to get involved with more!
Suzi Gage, researcher and lecturer at Liverpool University

Suzi won the Brain Zone back in June 2011 as a PhD student at the University of Bristol. She wanted to put her prize money towards starting a podcast that explained the science of substance use. Continue reading →

Posted on July 24, 2019 by modemily in News, Scientists | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Kickstarting an award winning public engagement career

“Frank, funny, probing… truly energising!” – June 2019 Winners’ blog posts

After every event we ask the winning scientists to write a short post to be sent to all the students who took part in the zone. It’s the perfect way for the scientists to reflect on all the engagement of the previous weeks, thank all the students for voting for them, and talk about how they plan to use their £500 prize money.

If you’re a scientist, whether in the public, private or academic sector, and you’re keen to experience the ‘best crash course in scicomm’, apply now for the next event, 11th–22nd November 2019, at imascientist.org.uk/scientists Continue reading →

Posted on July 3, 2019 by modemily in News | Comments Off on “Frank, funny, probing… truly energising!” – June 2019 Winners’ blog posts

Improving communication skills and finding phrases that work

Photo of Aileen Baird
“Now I feel I’ve got the confidence and the phrases to deliver my ten-second elevator pitch.” — Aileen Baird, PhD student at Centre for Doctoral Training

 

Aileen remembers taking part in I’m a Scientist when at school. Now a PhD student in Data, Risk and Environmental Analytical Methods, Aileen participated as a scientist in the Climate Zone.

Aileen had had experience communicating her work to visitors at her research institute and at one off events like Big Bang Fair. However, she believes taking part helped her develop short ‘quick-fire’ explanations of her research. Continue reading →

Posted on June 25, 2019 by modemily in News, Scientists | Tagged | Comments Off on Improving communication skills and finding phrases that work

Long lasting benefits for employees and employers

Photo of Emma Ryan
“Emma’s employer supported her participation in I’m an Engineer. She returned the favour by using her £500 prize money to develop an ongoing outreach event for the company.” — Emma Ryan, Research Engineer at Lockheed Martin, EngD student at the Centre for Doctoral Training in NanoMaterials and Technologies

 

Before taking part in I’m an Engineer, Emma Ryan felt the engagement events she was involved in weren’t reaching those who would benefit most. “Talking to girls about engineering is a big push for what I do,” she says, “but we were going to speak to women at university who know they’re doing engineering… I think it’s more important to go back to primary school.”

In I’m an Engineer, Emma was able to directly reach this audience. Winning the zone then gave her £500 towards her own engagement activities, which she used to leverage support from her employer. Continue reading →

Posted on June 17, 2019 by modemily in News, Scientists | Tagged | Comments Off on Long lasting benefits for employees and employers

Two-way engagement: immediate feedback on communication

Photo of Max Jamily
“You get direct responses as to whether or not the students like, and understand, your answers to their questions.” — Max Jamily, PhD student at SynBioCDT

 

Before taking part in I’m a Scientist, Max Jamily’s previous outreach experience was mainly blog posts and summer camps. “That definitely sets I’m a Scientist aside, where the main focus was me and my work,” he says. Continue reading →

Posted on June 6, 2019 by modemily in News, Scientists | Tagged | Comments Off on Two-way engagement: immediate feedback on communication

Improving communication skills through text-only conversations

Photo of Euan Allen
“I’m a Scientist was a good training lesson in spotting the jargon and technical language in your communication, and recalibrating yourself to remember that type of language isn’t useful.” — Euan Allen, PhD student at The University of Bristol

 

Euan took part in I’m a Scientist during the second year of his PhD at the Quantum Engineering Centre for Doctoral Training. Answering questions through the text-based format allowed him to ‘recalibrate’ his language to suit his audience.

Euan had done some in-person engagement previously but does not think of it as the best way to develop communication skills. Continue reading →

Posted on June 4, 2019 by modemily in News, Scientists | Tagged | Comments Off on Improving communication skills through text-only conversations

Moderator Vacancy: June 2019

We’re looking for a moderator to work with us on our June 2019 events.

I’m a Scientist and I’m an Engineer will run from the 10th to the 21st June 2019.

First rule of moderator club… This is a paid, 10 day job.
If you aren’t free from 8:30—4:30pm on all 10 days, please don’t apply. Continue reading →

Posted on May 13, 2019 by modemily in Event News, News, Science Engagement | Comments Off on Moderator Vacancy: June 2019

STEM engagement for scientists’ busy schedules


“I really feel it’s a great introduction to public engagement and a fantastic way to explain what biomedical science is all about.” — Hayley Pincott, University Dental Hospital

Hayley Pincott took part in I’m a Scientist in June 2018, spending two weeks chatting with school students about her role as an Associate Practitioner Healthcare Scientist at a University Dental Hospital. Hayley found the experience flexible enough to fit around the workload of a public sector scientist, and it gave her the skills and confidence to do further public engagement. Continue reading →

Posted on April 3, 2019 by admin in News, Scientists | Tagged | Comments Off on STEM engagement for scientists’ busy schedules

“Reminded me just how cool science is!” – March 2019 winners’ blog posts

After every event we ask the winning scientists to write a short post to be sent to all the students who took part in the zone. It’s the perfect way for the scientists to reflect on the previous two weeks, thank all the students for voting for them, and talk about how they plan to use their £500 prize money.

If you’re a scientist keen to experience the ‘best crash course in scicomm’, apply now for the next event, taking place 10th – 21st June 2019, at imascientist.org.uk/scientist-apply Continue reading →

Posted on March 26, 2019 by in News | Comments Off on “Reminded me just how cool science is!” – March 2019 winners’ blog posts

Moderator Vacancy: March 2019

We’re looking for moderators to work with us on our March 2019 events.

I’m a Scientist UK, I’m an Engineer UK and I’m an Engineer Ireland will run from the 4th to the 15th March 2019.

First rule of moderator club… This is a paid, 10 day job.
If you aren’t free from 8:30—4:30pm on all 10 days, please don’t apply.

Your key responsibilities will be:

  • Checking and approving questions
  • Adding appropriate keywords
  • Logging and keeping track of questions, comments and dialogue
  • Checking the site for inappropriate content
  • Moderating live chats
  • Helping to run the site

It’s actually a lot of fun as the students (and experts) are quick and funny and full of energy. And hey, promoting STEM engagement is a good thing, am I right?! Continue reading →

Posted on January 29, 2019 by in Event News, News, Science Engagement | Comments Off on Moderator Vacancy: March 2019

“I was in awe at the intelligence of the students” – November 2018 winners’ blog posts

After every event we ask the winning scientists to write a short post to be sent to all the students who took part in the zone. It’s the perfect way for the scientists to reflect on the previous two weeks, thank all the students for voting for them, and talk about how they plan to use their £500 prize money.

If you’re a scientist keen to experience the ‘best crash course in scicomm’, apply now for the next event, taking place 4th – 15th March 2019, at imascientist.org.uk/scientist-apply Continue reading →

Posted on November 26, 2018 by in News | Comments Off on “I was in awe at the intelligence of the students” – November 2018 winners’ blog posts

Demand vs Capacity: November 2018

It’s not a great feeling, turning 5,700 students away. Their teachers, 60 of them, wanted to take part in I’m a Scientist and I’m an Engineer this November but there wasn’t the funding to accommodate them. Sadly, it’s not the first time.

Demand has exceeded funded places available for the past 13 events; and in 9 of those we could have run double the number of zones we did.

Double the number of young people seeing that scientists and engineers are normal people like themselves.

Double the number of scientists and engineers taking part in “the best crash course in science communication”.

The Wellcome Trust, the British Psychological Society, and the UK Space Agency are among the funders this November. If you are interested in getting more chemists, non-biomed scientists or engineers in your field involved in outreach, if you think more students should get the opportunity to find out what science and scientists are like then please write to someone with an outreach or widening participation budget and ask them to consider working with us. Continue reading →

Posted on October 23, 2018 by in Capacity, News | Comments Off on Demand vs Capacity: November 2018

Moderator vacancy: November 2018

We’re looking for moderators to work with us on our November 2018 events.

I’m a Scientist UK, I’m an Engineer UK and I’m a Scientist Ireland will run from the 5th to the 16th November 2018. It’s a lot of fun as the students (and experts) are quick and funny and full of energy. And hey, promoting STEM engagement is a good thing, am I right?! Continue reading →

Posted on October 3, 2018 by in Event News, News, Science Engagement | Comments Off on Moderator vacancy: November 2018

Which browsers and devices are schools using?

Every so often (see here and here) we look at all our data to see how schools use the site.

Taking into consideration how visitors access the site, what they use to access it, and then see how much has changed over the past couple of years.

Our sites have to be mobile-device friendly, ready for tablets, which show a high usage – as you’d imagine. We’ve tried to make them more accessible for screen readers and phones. We pre-register all teachers and students, unless there are specific events which require teachers to register their students. Continue reading →

Posted on September 11, 2018 by modemily in News, Project News | Comments Off on Which browsers and devices are schools using?

Showing students the ‘bigger picture’ at A Level

“I’m a Scientist encourages independent thought and shows students the practical applications of their studies. Connecting with real psychologists also helps them decide what they’ll do next year and into the future.” – Lesley, Head of Psychology at Bay House School

 

Bay House School is a large comprehensive school with mixed attainment. In June 2018, sixth form Psychology students from the school took part in the Society Zone. Head of Psychology Lesley tells us how the activity supported her students’ progression and taught them the real-life applications of their subject.

Continue reading →

Posted on July 16, 2018 by admin in News, Teachers | Tagged | Comments Off on Showing students the ‘bigger picture’ at A Level

‘There is nothing like it! I miss it already’ – June 2018 Winners blog posts

After every event we ask the winning scientists to write a short post to be sent to all the students who took part in the zone. It’s the perfect way for the scientists to reflect on the previous two weeks, thank all the students for voting for them, and talk about how they plan to use their £500 prize money.

If you’re a scientist keen to experience the ‘best crash course in scicomm’, apply now for the next event, taking place 5th–16th November, at imascientist.org.uk/scientist-apply

Continue reading →

Posted on July 13, 2018 by in News | Comments Off on ‘There is nothing like it! I miss it already’ – June 2018 Winners blog posts

Showing students the relevance of their learning

“Doing something engaging like this creates a more well-rounded education and my students have now seen real-life applications of curriculum content.” — Lucy, Maths Teacher at Cornelius Vermuyden School, Canvey Island
 
 

Only a small proportion of students at Cornelius Vermuyden School aspire to go to university or move out of the local area, and many don’t see the point in what they study in school. Lucy tells us how their involvement in I’m an Engineer helped them see the importance of maths and broaden their horizons.

Continue reading →

Posted on July 13, 2018 by admin in News, School, Teachers | Tagged | Comments Off on Showing students the relevance of their learning

Changing attitudes across a whole year group

“Organising the event for the whole of year 8 meant that everyone could enjoy the benefits” – Polly, Science teacher at Willows High School, Cardiff

Willows High School, a mixed comprehensive school in a challenging quarter of Cardiff, took part in the I’m a Scientist activity in March 2018 with two classes. The school participated again in June 2018, this time with a whole year group. Polly tells us how having an entire year involved helped increase aspirations across the school and showed students that doing well in school has a far-reaching impact.

Continue reading →

Posted on July 12, 2018 by admin in News, School, Teachers | Tagged | Comments Off on Changing attitudes across a whole year group

Connecting my students with scientists online… is it safe?!

Some teachers may have reservations about bringing their class online to chat with scientists and we can understand that. We take safeguarding seriously and our site is secure and moderated. To reassure any hesitant teachers, here are some steps we take to safeguard young people in our online activities.

Continue reading →

Posted on June 27, 2018 by admin in News | Comments Off on Connecting my students with scientists online… is it safe?!

5 reasons I’m a Scientist is worth your lesson time… even for exam classes.

Project Wrangler Katie was a science teacher before joining the I’m a Scientist team, so has first-hand experience of the intense curriculum pressures teachers face. Here she talks us through how I’m a Scientist benefits your students with 5 reasons why it’s worth allocating lesson time to the activity.
Continue reading →

Posted on June 26, 2018 by admin in News, Science Capital | Comments Off on 5 reasons I’m a Scientist is worth your lesson time… even for exam classes.

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What can you do?

I want to take part with my class ❯

I want to take part as a scientist ❯

I want to find out about funding I’m a Scientist ❯

What is I’m a Scientist?

I’m a Scientist, Get me out of here is an online activity where school students get to meet and interact with scientists.

It’s a competition between scientists, where the students are the judges.

Students challenge the scientists over intense, fast-paced, online live Chats. Then they Ask the scientists all the questions they want to, and Vote for their favourite scientist to win a prize of £500 to communicate their work with the public.