News

I’m a Scientist! And a mathematician, and a computer scientist…

“I really enjoyed taking part in the maths and computer science Chats. If you code to process your data, or use some equations to explain your work, it’s a great way to show students how useful such skills are!”– Eliza Karlowska, Research Scientist

Eliza is a research scientist in tropical climate and high-impact weather. She takes part in Chats across I’m a Scientist, I’m a Mathematician, and I’m a Computer Scientist.

By joining multiple I’m a… projects, Eliza shows students that modern science is truly multidisciplinary. Skills like coding and maths aren’t optional extras. They are central to understanding the world.

Continue reading →

Posted on September 16, 2025 by modjamie in News | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on I’m a Scientist! And a mathematician, and a computer scientist…

Bite-sized volunteering to boost technicians’ outreach confidence

“I have grown in confidence with discussing the work I do, as well as a chance to reflect on the journey I have taken and the motivations behind how and why I got to where I am with my career today.”– Georgia Brittain, Research Technician at Johnson Matthey

Georgia has been taking part in I’m a Scientist for 5 years while working as a research technician at Johnson Matthey.

Since she first took part in 2020, Georgia has connected with approximately 650 students at schools from Aberdeenshire to Devon, right from her desk. It’s a flexible introduction to public engagement that fits around her work.

Continue reading →

Posted on June 5, 2025 by modjamie in News, Scientists | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Bite-sized volunteering to boost technicians’ outreach confidence

An easy intro to public engagement for animal technicians

“The opportunity to engage with young minds about an industry often hidden was one of the things that drew me to get involved.”– Jennifer Roe, Senior Laboratory Technician

Jennifer took part in I’m a Scientist while working as a laboratory technician, caring for mice kept for medical research purposes.

She answered students’ questions about animal research and welfare, helping to build understanding about her role in medical research.

Continue reading →

Posted on June 4, 2025 by modjamie in News, Scientists | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on An easy intro to public engagement for animal technicians

The I’m a Scientist Academy

“Taking part in both [I’m a Scientist and the Academy] allowed me to engage in active, reflective learning… Learning about science capital has really changed my mindset.”

– PhD student and I’m a Scientist Academy alumnus, Katie

Reflective practice is key to professional and personal development. It’s a process recommended by many organisations as part of the annual accreditation for Chartered Scientist and Technician status.

However, self-reflection isn’t an innate skill for everyone. The I’m a Scientist Academy supports scientists to reflect on and evidence their participation in student engagement in real time. Continue reading →

Posted on May 29, 2025 by modjamie in News, Scientists | Tagged , | Comments Off on The I’m a Scientist Academy

One from the I’m a… archive

Here’s a bit of I’m a Scientist history that we found in the drafts folder.

Having been there for the past 8 or so years, we thought it deserved to see the light of day. So we’ve dusted it off, and wanted to share it as a piece of history – even if we have come quite far since then.

Looking for something more current?
Read out what we’ve been up to more recently ❯
Learn about 2024’s big changes to our delivery method ❯
Find out what a live Chat looks like now ❯

Continue reading →

Posted on April 25, 2025 by modjamie in Event News, News, Project News | Tagged , | Comments Off on One from the I’m a… archive

Moderator Vacancies

Do you love STEM, do you love being online? If so, I invite you to join our team of dedicated online moderators, guiding students through the captivating world of STEM.

This is an opportunity to engage with curious young minds while contributing to their educational journey in a meaningful way.

I’m a Scientist, Get me out of here! is a platform for students aged 10 to 18 to interact with real STEM professionals through text-based chats. As an online moderator, you will play a pivotal role in ensuring that these interactions are informative, respectful, and enjoyable for all participants.

Continue reading →

Posted on October 18, 2024 by modemily in News | Comments Off on Moderator Vacancies

Moderator Vacancies: 2024

Do you love STEM, do you love being online? If so, I (Emily) invite you to join our team of dedicated online moderators, guiding students through the captivating world of STEM.

This is an opportunity to engage with curious young minds while contributing to their educational journey in a meaningful way.

I’m a Scientist, Get me out of here! is a platform for students aged 10 to 18 to interact with real STEM professionals through text-based chats. As an online moderator, you will play a pivotal role in ensuring that these interactions are informative, respectful, and enjoyable for all participants.

Continue reading →

Posted on January 30, 2024 by modemily in News | Tagged | 2s Comments

Moderator Vacancies: November 2023

We’re looking for online moderators to work with us on our March 2023 activities and beyond.

I’m a Scientist, Get me out of here is an online STEM enrichment activity for school students in the UK and Ireland, where students of all abilities aged 10 to18 can ask scientists their questions in live, text-based Chats, and get to know what real scientists are like.

Find out more about the activity at: I’m a Scientist 

We are looking for moderators to work from the 6 to 31 March 2023.

First rule of moderator club… This is a paid job, working from home.

You need to be free 8:30am – 4:30pm every weekday. Continue reading →

Posted on October 12, 2023 by modemily in News | Comments Off on Moderator Vacancies: November 2023

Head Moderator Vacancy

Location: Central Bath
Hours: Full time, 37.5/week, 08.30-16.30 (some evening work)
Pay: £24,000
Start date: ASAP

Could you be the day-to-day beating heart of our award winning engagement project connecting school students and scientists?

The role will be to coordinate our daily activities including our text-based live Chats between scientists and students. You will make sure that Chats run on time, are moderated and everything runs smoothly.

Continue reading →

Posted on October 6, 2023 by modhannah in News | Comments Off on Head Moderator Vacancy

Funders, can you support I’m a Scientist 

The I’m a Scientist, Get me out of here! project is getting better.

The I’m a… enrichment programme engages school students with people working in STEM. It reaches the students that are often left underserved and supports all students’ science capital. It’s also an opportunity for your staff or members to develop their engagement skills through an effective, efficient and high-quality public engagement programme.

Continue reading →

Posted on September 28, 2023 by modemily in News, Project News | Comments Off on Funders, can you support I’m a Scientist 

The I’m a Scientist, Get me out of here project is getting better, to suit teachers

From January 2024, you can choose a theme for your class’ activity at any time during the year.

Genetics in October ✔ Radiation in February ✔ General Chemistry in British Science Week ✔.

Whatever you want, whenever you want.

You can select a theme based on your current curriculum topic or from a broader range of scientific subject areas or special events. 

The core benefits of the student-led activity haven’t changed. Every class can:

  • Learn about up to 30 relevant scientists through their profiles, including their CVs
  • Connect with researchers in 30-minute, text-based online Chats

    • …

Continue reading →

Posted on September 28, 2023 by modemily in News, Project News | Comments Off on The I’m a Scientist, Get me out of here project is getting better, to suit teachers

The I’m a Scientist, Get me out of here project is getting better for STEM professionals

From January 2024, you can take part in the online STEM outreach activity I’m a Scientist whenever suits you best across the year. 

Teachers and students will be able to connect with you at the time that is most relevant to their learning – so when a class studies genetics in October, teachers can request a Chat with geneticists and technicians working with DNA.

Your conversations will help students understand how their learning applies to the real world, but also that people working in STEM are just like them. It helps them see that they, too, could have an interesting career in STEM.

Continue reading →

Posted on September 28, 2023 by modemily in News, Project News | Comments Off on The I’m a Scientist, Get me out of here project is getting better for STEM professionals

A year-round STEM enrichment activity 

The I’m a Scientist, Get me out of here! project is getting better.

From January 2024, teachers can decide on a theme for their I’m a Scientist activity throughout the year. No more waiting for a particular zone, they can choose their preferred subject at the time that suits them.

Their theme might be linked with their current learning, to show students how the curriculum directly relates to the real-world, or it might be a more general science topic.

Scientists whose work relates to the theme will be invited to a real-time, text-based class Chat and to answer students’ follow up questions.

Continue reading →

Posted on September 28, 2023 by modemily in News, Project News | Comments Off on A year-round STEM enrichment activity 

Royal Institution Online Youth Summit 2022 – Report

A screenshot of the reportSince 2020 the RI have commissioned an online youth summit on a subject related to the CHRISTMAS LECTURES.

The Summit takes place at the RI and consists of a series of talks, and provocations in the Faraday Theatre interspersed with breakout sessions in various rooms around the building.

Continue reading →

Posted on March 2, 2023 by modemily in Evaluation, News | Tagged | Comments Off on Royal Institution Online Youth Summit 2022 – Report

Darwin Tree of Life activity Report March 2021 to July 2022


The Darwin Tree of Life activity ran from March 2021 to July 2022 and was funded by the Wellcome Trust.

The activity featured 8 teams of scientists working on the Darwin Tree of Life project with the goal of sequencing the genomes of all eukaryotic species in Britain and Ireland.

Continue reading →

Posted on January 30, 2023 by modemily in Evaluation, News | Tagged | Comments Off on Darwin Tree of Life activity Report March 2021 to July 2022

Moderator Vacancies: March 2023

We’re looking for online moderators to work with us on our March 2023 activities and beyond.

I’m a Scientist, Get me out of here is an online STEM enrichment activity for school students in the UK and Ireland, where students of all abilities aged 10 to18 can ask scientists their questions in live, text-based Chats, and get to know what real scientists are like.

Find out more about the activity at: I’m a Scientist 

We are looking for moderators to work from the 6 to 31 March 2023.

Continue reading →

Posted on January 11, 2023 by modhannah in News | Comments Off on Moderator Vacancies: March 2023

Going global: how corporate community investment led to equal and effective STEM enrichment for students on both sides of the Atlantic

I’m a Scientist, Get me out of here is a project that scales globally, engaging the curiosity of students from Ho Chi Minh City to New York.

With a social justice mission and a capacity for international delivery, I’m a Scientist can offer an international company’s employees – no matter where they are – the same experience of high-quality public engagement. As such, I’m a Scientist, Get me out of here was an ideal delivery partner for Johnson Matthey’s ambitious, international Science and Me programme. Continue reading →

Posted on December 8, 2022 by in News | Tagged | Comments Off on Going global: how corporate community investment led to equal and effective STEM enrichment for students on both sides of the Atlantic

Am I a scientist?: celebrating the ‘non-scientists of science’ 

Fiona Travers, STEM Ambassador

As a volunteer STEM Ambassador, Fiona Travers is part of a nationwide project bringing STEM subjects to life for young people in classrooms and communities.

But while she studied science at university, and her day job is science-related, she wouldn’t necessarily consider herself to be a “real scientist”. Fiona says, “When I was asked to be part of [101 Jobs], a familiar little voice inside my head shouted, ‘You’re not a real scientist, why would they want to speak to you?’”

Continue reading →

Posted on October 13, 2022 by in News | Tagged | Comments Off on Am I a scientist?: celebrating the ‘non-scientists of science’ 

How a text-only Chat helped a student with selective mutism communicate with adults

The text-based Chats on I’m an Engineer and I’m a Scientist can work particularly well for students for whom face-to-face communication is inaccessible. This was demonstrated when Daniel, a child with selective mutism, entered Vicky Heslop’s classroom.

In a recent article for Tes magazine, Vicky says that Daniel “would talk through his friends, who would ask questions on his behalf” but was unable to communicate with adults and teachers. Vicky, a teacher at Westbury Junior School in Wiltshire, explains that it was a “huge challenge for me to understand Daniel’s inner world, his interests and passions.” Continue reading →

Posted on July 18, 2022 by in News, Teachers | Tagged , | Comments Off on How a text-only Chat helped a student with selective mutism communicate with adults

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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.