Stephen Curry, winner of the Imaging Zone
It’s a couple of months since I learned on Twitter that I had won the Imaging Zone of the June 2010 round of the “I’m a scientist, Get me out of here!” competition. I was absolutely delighted. But at the same time I was utterly exhausted after an intense fortnight of interrogation.
I have since recovered my energy levels but the buzz of excitement from the whole event is still with me. I’m so glad that I signed up to join in and not just because I acquired my magnificent new nickname: the GingerNinja!
What made the most lasting impression on me were the sheer enthusiasm of all the students who posed questions AND their very obvious concern to see how science can be used to make the world a better place.
It was fantastic to be tested by so many challenging questions (I’m still thinking about magnets!) and to have my idealism refreshed by contact with bold young minds [he means you, students! – ed]. I am very grateful to you students for making me think anew about my science.
Stephen's winner's certificate, and his trusty Kodak camera
Having won, I now have to make good on my promise to come up with a film and have started to plan the project. I aim to interview a range of different scientists, young and old, men and women, to ask them about how they got into science and what they feel they have contributed.
I am convinced that most scientists are, like myself, pretty ordinary people who just happen to be exceedingly curious. I hope in these conversations to break apart the stereotypical image that all scientists are super-intelligent boffins. We’re not! That way, perhaps some of the viewers will be tempted to give it a go.
It will take me a few months to pull together the film. I’ve started compiling a list of people I’d like to interview and already got a few to agree to be filmed by my trusty Kodak Zi8 (which was used to make the trailer). I’ll probably need to by a few bits and piece of gear with the £500 prize money — a new tripod perhaps, and a decent microphone.
I aim to make a start on filming in August or September. I’ll make sure to keep you posted.
Stephen Curry
Winner of the Imaging Zone
