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
Ali Hill, Solent University, Food Zone
Thank you to everyone who voted for me and any of the other scientists in the Food Zone, as well as all the questions you asked any of us – watching the responses in the chat and ask sections, it was obvious that you guys were having as much fun as we were. I have learnt so much about myself and how I communicate, and I’ve loved finding out about some of the things that really matter to you. For some of you, it’s felt as if the Food Zone was a safe place where you could escape from the real world for half an hour, and I can’t begin to put into words how hearing that’s what you thought has made me feel.
Samuel Vennin, King’s College London, Heart Zone
While doing STEM engagement, I have always been stricken to realise how little I know about basic phenomena related to my field of research. Until last week for example, I had never wondered why blood was red or how much of it does our body produce in a day. These are yet simple questions, the kind of which often only children with their common sense and no filter approach could ask, but they make us wonder how we have been able to get this far without knowing this…
Daniel Marsh, King’s College London, Healthy Cities Zone
It was a real honour to take part in I’m a Scientist this year, we had a lot of fun in the Healthy Cities Zone. I was really impressed by all the questions from the students and the great answers from the scientists but it all flew by so quickly. The second week was really exciting with the eviction days and I was thrilled to get into the finals but honestly didn’t expect to win.
Daniel Jolley, Staffordshire University, Society Zone
I really hope that the students – you – saw how psychology can be applied in diverse ways to answer real-world questions. Psychology is like a sweetie bag; there are so many different flavors.
If you are reading this as a fellow psychologist or school wondering if you should take part in future events, then it is a big recommendation from me. It was such a busy, but amazingly fun and rewarding 2-weeks. There is nothing like it! I miss it already.
Sam Burton, University of Liverpool, Wellbeing Zone
I didn’t realise how much I could learn from chatting about my work. Some of the questions asked made me really think about what I was doing, and coming up with ways to make it accessible for everyone to understand. But it also taught me to how to make it sound interesting to kids, who may normally find science boring or would never think to look at the topic I research.
Alex Seeney, University of Stirling, Berkelium Zone
The past two weeks have given me some of the most rewarding and enjoyable conversations I’ve had to date. Having the opportunity to engage with so many students (and teachers) took me back to when I was a young student at school, wondering what my future held and whether I’d be “good enough” to do the things I wanted to do. I empathised with many of the thoughts and emotions that were present in the many live chats we had — the future can seem quite daunting when you can’t find the answers to a myriad of questions.
Ella Mercer, University of Edinburgh, Californium Zone
One of my favourite parts of I’m a Scientist was hopefully being able to show you that I’m just a normal person. I like to go to the cinema with my friends, I eat pizza and I want to travel the world. When I was at school, I didn’t really know what a scientist did which meant I didn’t know I wanted to be one until I was 21! I hope after taking part in the chats you know there are so many different jobs you can do as a scientist.
If you’re up for the challenge, want to answer some downright weird questions, even learn things from students…
I’m a Scientist, Get me out of here runs every March, June, and November. It only takes 2 minutes and one sentence to apply!
