The Festival of Tomorrow is the place for science, workshops, and demonstrations in Swindon. This year 47,000 visitors interacted with it. At the Festival Finale, on Saturday 22nd February, we ran I’m a Scientist – Live! with support from STFC. Continue reading
On Tuesday 19th March two shows of I’m a Scientist – Live! came to the stage of the Ridgeway School as part of the Science and Technology Facilities Council’s Bringing Science to Swindon programme. The event helped STFC reach a new audience and engaged school students with the people behind the science funded by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) councils, all based in their hometown.
In total, 200+ secondary school students from 5 different Swindon schools (Ridgeway, Kingsdown, Abbey Park, Commonweal, and Warneford) attended the shows.
They put their questions to 12 members of the UKRI community, between them representing STFC, EPSRC, BBSRC, NERC and MRC: scientists, engineers and staff from the research council head offices at Polaris House. Continue reading
Yesterday afternoon, on European Antibiotic Awareness Day, we joined the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) at Burlington House in London, Piccadilly for a foray into antimicrobial research. We took five scientists — three of whom were I’m a Scientist alumni, having taken part in previous online events — whose research looks at the uses of antibiotics and antimicrobials, put them in a room in-front of around 100 sixth-formers, and had them answer questions on everything from Typhoid Mary, to zombie apocalypses. Our scientists were Rob Shorten, Jess Bean, Mark Roberts, Clare Taylor, and Emma Newton. Helen Arney, our MC for the afternoon kicked off by introducing the scientists before launching into a round of Science Fact or Fiction. The facts covered everything from bacteria flavouring cheese and yogurt, to our being only 10% human, with most of the cells in the body (by number) actually being bacteria. Clare introduced the … Continue reading
Last night five scientists researching different aspects of antimicrobials took to the floor at the FIS Conference at the ICC in Birmingham to take part in I’m a Scientist Live: Drugs, Bugs and Infections. Our five were: Mark Webber Richard Bax Amy Wedley Anne-Marie Krachler Peter Hawkey Our MC for the evening, Simon Watt, kicked off by spending 10 minutes interviewing Laura Piddock, Chair of Public Engagement at BSAC about the current situation in research. The scientists introduced themselves and gave their Science Facts and Fictions before the 100-strong audience launched with their questions. 30 mins later with time running out, Simon brought the event to a climax by asking the scientists to spend 30seconds telling the audience why they should get the votes and the winner’s trophy. The vote that followed confirmed that Anne Marie’s promotion of the IMI’s Summer School for Year 12 students was enough to edge … Continue reading
During November, we're running two I'm a Scientist: Live events. The first, titled Drugs, Bugs, and Antibiotics will be in Birmingham on the 11th November as part of the FIS Annual Conference, with the British Society for Antimicrobial Chemotherapy, and the Society for General Microbiology. This foray into the world of microbial nasties will be hosted by Simon Watt, and a few weeks ago we put out a call for riveting researchers, scintillating scientists and absorbing antimicrobialists. The call was answered, and it's time to meet the scientists: Amy Wedley: University of Liverpool Amy has recently completed a PhD with research focusing on antimicrobial resistant bacteria in the UK dog population. Dogs are often valued members of people’s families and their health and welfare is considered of the utmost importance. When they become ill, we want to make sure they get better and, in some cases, this means treatment with … Continue reading
We're running two I'm a Scientist: Live events this November, and on European Antimicrobial Awareness Day on the 18th, we will be with Helen Arney at the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC). We asked for antimicrobial chemists and scientists to entertain, edify, and enlighten sixth-form students, and other members of the public as part of a programme of events being run in Burlington House. Well, we've picked our antimicrobial analysts, and infection-fighting inventors; let's meet them: Rob Shorten: Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust Rob is a clinical scientist working in a joint diagnostic and research laboratory at the Royal Free/UCL in Hampstead. His research interest focuses on the evolution of antimicrobial resistance in tuberculosis. We face the challenge of identifying resistant organisms in the community and healthcare settings on a daily basis and the associated clinical problems that this involves. Mark Roberts: Queen Mary University, London Mark is a … Continue reading
In November we will be running two new I’m a Scientist: Live events on the theme of antimicrobial infections. I’m a Scientist: Live is an event targeted at teachers and sixth-form students which puts five scientists on stage to compete for audience votes, answering questions on—in this case—antimicrobial research, and infectious diseases. The first event, titled “drugs, bugs, and infections”, in association with the British Society for Antimicrobial Chemotherapy (BSAC), and the Society for General Microbiology will take place on the evening of Monday, 11th November, at the International Conference Centre, Birmingham. The evening will be hosted by biologist, and TV presenter, Simon Watt, and will run as part of the public engagement programme for the Federation of Infection Societies (FIS) Annual Conference. The next week, on the afternoon of Monday, 18th November, we will be in London at the Royal Society of Chemistry’s (RSC) headquarters, in Burlington House, Piccadilly. … Continue reading
I’m a Neuroscientist Live at the Barbican In March and April 2013 we organised the heats and final of I’m a NeuroScientist Live at the Barbican as part of Wonder season: Art and science on the brain. In the first heat on Saturday 30th March the five scientists taking part were: Thomas Butts and Irene Jacobson from Kings College London, Martin Coath from the University of Plymouth, Sarah Jarvis from Imperial College London and Esha Massand from Birbeck, University of London. While on Sunday 31st the next five scientists competing were Amy Birch from Imperial College London, Jonathan Webb from the University of Oxford, Eva Feredoes from the University of Reading, Mark Horowitz from Kings College London and Catherine Loveday from the University of Westminster. We found all 10 of these participants and gave them a full briefing before the event. Neural network modeller Sarah Jarvis from the first … Continue reading
I’m a Scientist, Get me out of here! Live puts five scientists on stage to compete for audience votes by answering the public’s burning science questions. Whichever topics you’d like to be talked about, we can work with you to find enthusiastic experts in their field who are keen to engage the public with their work. The event is based on the successful online format, where school students take part in live online chats with scientists and vote for their favourite. The live format takes advantage of the public’s curiosity, allowing them not only to engage with the scientists but to decide for themselves the best science communicator. Click here to find full details of our most recent I’m a Scientist Live event, which was held at the Barbican and included two heats in March and a final in April. Update: The most recent I’m a Scientist Live event was … Continue reading
Last night saw the final of I’m a NeuroScientist live at the Barbican Centre, with over 200 audience members asking questions and voting as the five neuroscientists battled it out to win £200 for charity and the much-coveted I’m a NeuroScientist winner’s trophy. Both scientists and science-lovers came to see neuron network modeller Sarah Jarvis, March I’m a Scientist Brain Zone winner Jen Todd Jones, depression researcher Mark Horowitz, brain collector Pascal Durrenberger and music-lover Lauren Stewart. At £5 a ticket, audience members – 35% scientists themselves and the rest members of the public with an interest in science – were keen to have their brain questions answered by the experts. Questions included I’m a girl, I can read maps but I can’t multitask – am I broken? and can stress ever be good? At the end of the evening Mark Horowitz walked away with the trophy after some great answers on how stress … Continue reading
On Tuesday April 9th at 7.30 the following five fearless neuroscientists will walk out under the glare of the spotlights in the Barbican Cinema One prepared to be interrogated by the sell-out crowd who have come to hear the answers to their questions. Only one can become King or Queen of the Barbican. Who will it be? Will it be Sarah Jarvis, our neuron network modeller who won the first heat? Or enthusiastic, thoughtful, jokey Jen Todd Jones who won the Brain Zone in our March I’m a Scientist event? Perhaps Mark Horowitz who travelled to London from Sydney in order to study depression will walk away with the prize. Could Brain Collector Pascal Durrenburger collect the prize for his charity. Or maybe Music, Mind and Brain maestro Lauren Stewart will be singing with joy as the winner. Who knows but it’ll be the 280 strong audience that decides on the … Continue reading
So here’s the plan. Heat winners Sarah Jarvis & Mark Horowitz are confirmed. Sarah models networks of neurons, to identify certain principles and test out scenarios, to establish why the neurons in our brains are connected to each other the way they are. Mark studies the molecular causes of depression using a human hippocampal stem cell model to understand what effect stress hormones, inflammation and antidepressants have on the brain. They will be joined by one of these five who are currently battling it out online for supremacy of the Brain Zone. That leaves two spaces in the I’m a NeuroScientist Live final. We’ve had a few nominations in, but we’re giving one more chance for final suggestions. Please email iaslive@gallomanor.com with your nominations by Friday 15th March 2013. Talking of spaces. There aren’t many left for the audience. Book online now. £5 plus a booking fee.
“Do we need a brain?” “Can you ever stop thinking?” “Why does depression come on so quickly?” One sign of success with a public Q&A session is that the public mob the panel afterwards with the questions they couldn’t ask during the main event. Thank you to all the scientists who hung around for ages after the events last weekend. Congratulations to Sarah Jarvis and Mark Horowitz our I’m a NeuroScientist – Live Weekender Heat winners. The events at the Barbican last weekend were a real blast. The place was packed. People queueed to take part in science activities about the brain. It was a great feeling on both days to come out of the green room to find a large audience of about 150 people already sat down waiting for our show to start. Saturday had a distinctly youthful feel to it. they were excitable, noisy and ready to … Continue reading
Join us at the Barbican in London this weekend for two free live I’m a Scientist events giving you the chance to quiz real neuroscientists on the brain. Neuroscientists will be on stage taking audience questions at 3:45pm on Saturday and again at 3:15pm on Sunday as part of the Barbican Weekender. Each day, five scientists will compete for the votes of the audience to win a place in the final which takes place on the evening of Tuesday 9th April in Cinema One at the Barbican. Meet the NeuroScientists Saturday: Thomas Butts – Kings College London We study the evolution of the brain and its associated nerves – how does the developing embryo make neurons that allow it to sense the world around it? and how did it evolve new neurons, and in really large numbers? Martin Coath (@mcoath) – University of Plymouth I write computer programs and help to design … Continue reading
Are male and female brains different? Is the brain more like a sponge or a computer? Do we really only use 10% of our brain? We’re taking I’m a Scientist on the road again. In March and April as part of Wonder: Art and Science on the Brain, a partnership between the Barbican and Wellcome Trust supported BNA2013: Festival of Neuroscience we are running 3 live I’m a Scientist live events. Instead of answering questions from the safety of your lab we’re asking Neuroscientists to get on stage to take questions directly from an audience. On Saturday 2nd and Sunday 3rd March, comedian and geek songstress, Helen Arney will be compering the events as part of the Barbican Weekender. Five scientists will compete for the votes of the audience to win a place in the final which takes place on the evening of Tuesday 9th April in Cinema One at … Continue reading
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.