Category Archives: Zone Reports

Medical Research Zone Report – March 2020

Read the report: Medical Research Zone Report – March 2020 [PDF]

The Medical Research Zone was an online event held over four weeks and funded by the Medical Research Council (MRC).

29 MRC researchers and technical staff created profiles on the website, and engaged with students throughout the month in live CHATs and the ASK section. The effects of coronavirus meant substantial disruption was reported by many schools during the last two weeks of the event.

1,012 students from 23 schools all over the UK logged into the zone over the four weeks. 74% of the schools were widening participation and/or underserved.

In the ASK section, 349 questions were approved and sent to the researchers and technical staff, who between them wrote 1,564 answers.

45 online live CHATs took place during the event, including four evening live CHATs where students could join in from home with their family. An average of 6 researchers and technical staff came to each session, giving students a wide variety of roles and people to find out about

Posted on June 1, 2020 modantony in 2020, MRC, Zone Reports | Comments Off on Medical Research Zone Report – March 2020

Green Zone Report – March 2020

Green Zone Report – March 2020 (Click image to download the full report [PDF])

Read the report: Green Zone Report – March 2020 [PDF]

The Green Zone was launched as a pilot zone due to school closures in light of the global pandemic of COVID-19, Coronavirus. This enabled us to launch I’m a Scientist, Stay at home as an expansion and continuation of the Green Zone.

We had a total of 82 scientists sign up to participate in this zone; ranging in specialities from animal behaviour to nuclear engineering.

Posted on May 15, 2020 modjosh in 2020, Wellcome Trust, Zone Reports | Comments Off on Green Zone Report – March 2020

Space Zone Report – March 2020

Read the report: Space Zone Report – March 2020 [PDF]

The Space Zone was a themed zone funded by STFC. It featured six scientists:

  • Samantha Faircloth is a PhD student studying elements from moon rocks, funded by STFC.
  • Sam Frampton is an STFC funded PhD student designing new, smaller satellites to visit and study other planets in our solar system.
  • Nicol Caplin is a Science Coordinator at ESA helping to plan experiments ready to go to space on the International Space Station.
  • Lori-Ann Foley is a PhD student looking at how climate change affects Mars, using data from RAL Space instruments.
  • Liam Perera is an STFC funded PhD student looking at how life may survive on Saturn’s icy moon- Enceladus.
  • David Sobral, winner of the Space Zone, uses microscopes to research how galaxies formed and evolved from the primitive universe, funded by STFC.
Posted on April 16, 2020 modem in 2020, STFC, Zone Reports | Comments Off on Space Zone Report – March 2020

Particles Zone Report – March 2020

Read the report: Particles Zone Report – March 2020 [PDF]

The Particles Zone was a themed zone supported by STFC. It featured six scientists:

  • Ondrej Kovanda is an STFC funded PhD student studying ways the standard model of particle physics fails.
  • Jordan McElwee is an STFC funded PhD student studying how neutrinos interact with the atomic nucleus.
  • Eleanor Jones is PhD student at CERN, using the world’s most powerful particle accelerator to look back in time and predict the future.
  • Edward Banks, winner of the Particles Zone, is a Lab Technician at STFC Boulby Underground Laboratory, running experiments that need very quiet conditions.
  • Christine Beavers is the Principal Beamline Scientist at the Diamond Light Source, using high energy x-rays to see the atomic structure of minerals, materials and molecules.
  • Alice Morris is a PhD student at UCL, looking at data from the ATLAS detector at CERN.
Posted on April 16, 2020 modem in 2020, STFC, Zone Reports | Comments Off on Particles Zone Report – March 2020

Nihonium Zone Report – March 2020

Read the report: Nihonium Zone Report – March 2020 [PDF]

The Nihonium Zone was a themed zone supported by Wellcome. It featured six scientists:

  • Pan-ngum Wirichada predicts how disease spreads and how we may be able to stop or slow it down using mathematical models.
  • Natalia Brodaczewska sets up and analyses genetic tests looking for changes in the DNA of cancer patients.
  • Mick Schubert, the winner of this zone, is a science writer and editor, turning complicated science into ways everyone can understand.
  • Manjit Kaur is a Dermatologist at the University of Birmingham.
  • Filipe Richheimer is a PhD student measuring very small objects.
  • Bruce Saleeb-Mousa is a PhD student designing, making and testing tiny devices that can change the direction of the path of a light beam.
Posted on April 16, 2020 modem in 2020, Wellcome Trust, Zone Reports | Comments Off on Nihonium Zone Report – March 2020

Moscovium Zone Report – March 2020

Read the report: Moscovium Zone Report – March 2020 [PDF]

The Moscovium Zone was a general zone supported by STFC. It featured five scientists:

    • Martha Jesson is an Intelligence Coordinator helping services to provide better care.
    • Jennifer Carroll is a Nuclear Scientist at Wood plc, designing changes to nuclear power stations to help keep reactors operating and generating electricity.
    • Dan Brunsdon is a Medical Anthropologist at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, trying to understand how to prevent people from getting sick.
    • Ben Rowsell is a PhD student developing new ways of producing drugs and sustainable production of industrial products.
    • Baptiste Ravina, the winner of the Moscovium Zone, is studying particles created by hitting other particles together in the lab.
Posted on April 16, 2020 modem in 2020, STFC, Zone Reports | Comments Off on Moscovium Zone Report – March 2020

Molecule Zone Report – March 2020

Read the report: Molecule Zone Report – March 2020 [PDF]

The Molecule Zone was a themed zone supported by ScotCHEM. It featured six scientists:

  • Zahra Rattray, from University of Strathclyde, is researching about how to develop new chemotherapy medicines
  • Peter Brown is a PhD student at University of St Andrews, working on building more efficient and durable solar panels to combat climate change
  • Mairi Littleson is a Medicinal Chemist at University of Dundee, researching how to make new molecules that could be used as medicine
  • Elliott Reedy is a PhD student at University of Edinburgh, studying various molecules that are thought to be present in gas clouds and dust between stars.
  • Danica Pinto, the zone winner from Heriot-Watt University, uses spectroscopy to study molecules.
  • Ane Valera, from University of Aberdeen, makes changes to bugs’ DNA to produce a material for car windscreens.
Posted on April 16, 2020 modem in 2020, ScotCHEM, Zone Reports | Comments Off on Molecule Zone Report – March 2020

Livermorium Zone Report – March 2020

Read the report: Livermorium Zone Report – March 2020 [PDF]

The Livermorium Zone was a general science zone funded by STFC. It featured six scientists:

  • Zoya Ali is a Geneticist at RHC, specialising in prenatal and reproductive genetics
  • Tom Scott is a Lecturer who develops low cost nano-materials for cleaning water at low cost and has been funded by STFC.
  • Stacey New, winner of the Livermorium Zone, is a Climate Scientist at the Met Office, a research partner of STFC, working to help people understand climate change and its impacts.
  • Laura Mason is a Forensic Researcher at DTSL, a research partner of STFC. looking at ways to find evidence that can be used in court cases.
  • James Lees is a PhD student investigating how to make a thermometer for use at a scale of just hundreds of atoms.
  • Connor Prior is a PhD student trying to make new compounds which could provide new ways to make medicines.
Posted on April 16, 2020 modem in 2020, STFC, Zone Reports | Comments Off on Livermorium Zone Report – March 2020

Flerovium Zone Report – March 2020

Read the report: Flerovium Zone Report – March 2020 [PDF]

The Flerovium Zone was a general zone supported by STFC. It featured six scientists:

  • Tom Dally is a Postdoctoral Researcher using sound and radar to identify and track insect numbers and uses data from STFC facilities.
  • Rebecca Wong is a Safety Case Consultant at Wood plc, an STFC partner company, assessing hazards on nuclear sites.
  • Emily Goddard is a PhD student investigating how to use salt to make heating your home greener and cheaper and uses data from STFC facilities.
  • Elspeth Keating is a Research Fellow in lightweight materials and manufacturing and uses data from STFC facilities.
  • Ben Cropper, the winner of the Flerovium Zone, is a PhD student funded by STFC studying particle physics.
  • Antoine Bourget is a Theoretical Physicist at Imperial College London funded by STFC, who is trying to understand how the world works at a fundamental level.
Posted on April 16, 2020 modem in 2020, STFC, Zone Reports | Comments Off on Flerovium Zone Report – March 2020

Food Zone Report – March 2020

Read the report: Food Zone Report – March 2020 [PDF]

The Food Zone was a themed zone supported by Wellcome. It featured four scientists:

  • Ross Alexander, the winner of the zone, is a lecturer and researcher looking into what happens when plants get stressed.
  • Martin Johnsson is a Postdoctoral Researcher studying the DNA of pigs and chickens to understand their biology and improve animal breeding.
  • Gabriela da Silva Xavier is a Senior Lecturer in cellular metabolism researching type 2 diabetes.
  • Ellie Spence is a PhD student working with a fungus that kills insects, to try and find an alternative to chemical insecticides.
Posted on April 16, 2020 modem in 2020, Wellcome Trust, Zone Reports | Comments Off on Food Zone Report – March 2020

Electromagnetic Zone Report – March 2020

Read the report: Electromagnetic Zone Report – March 2020 [PDF]

The Electromagnetic Zone was a themed zone funded by STFC. It featured six scientists:

  • Megan Maunder is an STFC funded Space Weather Scientist, whose work allows scientists to better forecast how the weather in space will impact the earth.
  • Katherine Graves is a PhD student who turns plastic into useful carbon nanotubes, and uses electromagnetic radiation data from STFC facilities to see whether they have formed correctly.
  • Jesse Dykes is an Optical Scientist at Qinetiq who uses lasers to see through clouds and fog and communicate with satellites.
  • Dave Constable, the winner of this zone, studies the aurora on Jupiter and Saturn using computer simulations and is funded by STFC.
  • Amelia Edwards is a PhD student based at CERN, working on the design and testing of components for future particle accelerators.
  • Arjuna James is a PhD student funded by STFC studying the atmospheres of Uranus and Neptune.
Posted on April 16, 2020 modem in 2020, STFC, Zone Reports | Comments Off on Electromagnetic Zone Report – March 2020

Energy Zone Report – March 2020

Read the report: Energy Zone Report – March 2020 [PDF]

The Energy Zone was a themed zone supported by the Royal Society of Chemistry. It featured five scientists:

  • Struan Simpson is a PhD Student making materials that help quantum computers remember things.
  • Isabel Cooley is a PhD Student who uses computer models to help design energy saving materials.
  • Douglas Bray, the winner of the Energy Zone, is a PhD student using Water Hyacinth to make protein for animal food and gas so villagers can cook.
  • David Threlfall is a Lifecycle Engineer at Rolls Royce, ensuring aeroplane engines work safely and reliably.
  • Charlotte Hoskin is a PhD Student making a biological battery to act as an artificial retina.
Posted on April 16, 2020 modem in 2020, RSC, Zone Reports | Comments Off on Energy Zone Report – March 2020

Copernicium Zone Report – March 2020

Read the report: Copernicium Zone Report – March 2020 [PDF]

The Copernicium Zone was a general science zone supported by STFC. It featured six scientists:

  • James Roberts is a mechanical engineer who researches how to build fusion power plants at UKAEA, an STFC partner.
  • Hannah Blyth is an STFC funded PhD student studying plant pathology and looking into how fungi cause disease in wheat leaves.
  • Claire Hobday is a materials chemist who uses STFC facilities in her research on the atomic structure of materials and the effect of pressure on them.
  • Chris Carlton works for STFC managing a panel of experts who assess physics proposals for funding, in areas including nuclear physics and astronomy.
  • Binuraj Menon, the winner of the Copernicium Zone, uses data from STFC facilities in his work on converting microbes to produce new types of molecules.
  • Alice Rhind-Tutt is a PhD student using data from STFC facilities to research how DNA moves, to try and find methods of preventing and curing illnesses including HIV and dementia.
Posted on April 16, 2020 modem in 2020, STFC, Zone Reports | Comments Off on Copernicium Zone Report – March 2020

Community Zone Report – March 2020

Read the report: Community Zone Report – March 2020 [PDF]

The Community Zone was a themed zone supported by the British Psychological Society. It featured five psychologists:

  • Peter Kinderman is a Professor of Clinical Psychology at the University of Liverpool, studying why people develop mental health problems.
  • Mhairi Bowe is a Senior Lecturer at Nottingham Trent University, who studies how identity and social relationships relate to health and wellbeing.
  • Madeleine Pownall is a PhD Student at the University of Leeds, researching into the stereotypes associated with pregnant women.
  • Catherine Talbot, the winner of the Community Zone, is a PhD student at the University of Exeter, looking into how people with dementia use social media.
  • Andrew McNeill is a Lecturer at Northumbria University, exploring how people respond to being victims of wars and conflicts.
Posted on April 16, 2020 modem in 2020, BPS, Zone Reports | Comments Off on Community Zone Report – March 2020

Childhood Zone Report – March 2020

Read the report: Childhood Zone Report – March 2020 [PDF]

The Childhood Zone was a themed zone supported by the British Psychological Society. It featured six psychologists:

  • Tom Gallagher-Mitchell is a lecturer focusing on how we develop and change as we get older.
  • Rachel Reid is a Child and Educational Psychologist working with families in London.
  • Priya Silverstein, the winner of the Childhood Zone, is a postdoctoral researcher looking at the effects of playing with Lego on a child’s ability to learn Maths.
  • Jessica Pope is a PhD researcher looking into the impacts of cancer on adolescent patients and young adult survivors.
  • Dan O’Hare is an Educational Psychologist, making sure that children learn and achieve goals.
  • Beatrice Hayes is a PhD student interested in how children use social media sites.
Posted on April 16, 2020 modem in 2020, BPS, Zone Reports | Comments Off on Childhood Zone Report – March 2020

Antimicrobial Zone Report – March 2020

Read the report: Antimicrobial Zone Report – March 2020 [PDF]

The Antimicrobial Zone was a themed zone supported by Wellcome and the Society for Applied Microbiology. It featured six scientists:

  • Lucy Kelly is a PhD student finding new ways to kill bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics.
  • Greg Heikel, the winner of the Antimicrobial Zone, is a Trainee Clinical Scientist at the NHS, using blood test results to figure out what is making people feel ill.
  • Emma Hayhurst works in hospitals to try and work out how to stop the spread of dangerous bacteria through feces.
  • David Mark is a PhD student investigating new species of bacteria from soil.
  • Anthony De Souza is a Healthcare Scientist at Great Ormond Street Hospital, finding out what is causing infections by testing bodily fluids
  • Anna Stec is a Clinical Engineer at Lincoln County Hospital, finding ways pharmacists can help us fight microbials.
Posted on April 16, 2020 modjen in 2020, SfAM, Wellcome Trust, Zone Reports | Comments Off on Antimicrobial Zone Report – March 2020

Science Week 2020 Zone Report – March 2020

Science Week 2020 Zone Report (March 2020) Preview

Click preview to read the full report [PDF]

Read the report: Science Week 2020 Zone Report – March 2020 [PDF]

The Science Week 2020 Zone was set up in response to the cancellation of the 2020 Big Bang Fair due to the global outbreak of the COVID-19 virus. The Zone provided a place for students from schools which were intending to attend the Big Bang Fair to connect with the exhibitors they would have met.

Key figures:

  • 17 live CHATs took place, with a total of 6,071 lines written. This matches the scale of a standard 2-week I’m a Scientist zone, over just 3 days.
  • 140 users (students and teachers) logged into the Zone, 96% of whom actively participated in live CHATs. Many live chats were teacher-led, meaning that the true number of engaged students is higher than the 128 who logged into live chat themselves.
  • 64 scientists and exhibitors actively participated in the Zone. A full list of scientists and exhibitors can be found at: scienceweek20.imascientist.org.uk/scientists/
  • Engagement focussed on live CHATs; no questions were posted through ASK by students or teachers, 21 answers were given in response to the initial question posted by the Zone moderator: What are your plans for Science Week?
Posted on March 18, 2020 modjosh in 2020, Zone Reports | Comments Off on Science Week 2020 Zone Report – March 2020

Sustainability Zone Report – November 2019

Read the report: Sustainability Zone Report – November 2019 [PDF]

The Sustainability Zone was a themed zone supported by Wellcome. It featured six scientists:

  • Stuart Goldie is a Postgraduate Research Assistant, discovering new materials for renewable energy.
  • Scott Dwyer is finding new ways to control a parasitic mite that can kill honey bees.
  • Lisa Kelly manages BASF’s distribution business, trying to supply products like cosmetics, food and pharmaceuticals in a sustainable way.
  • Jack Saunders is a polymer scientist making new plastics for paints, to help keep things in better conditions for longer.
  • Caragh Whitehead is a research technician looking at how plants can lead to improvements in all areas of our lives.
  • Alex Batchelor, the winner of this zone, is a PhD student investigating how plant roots can get more phosphorous from the soil, to help them grow better and produce more food.
Posted on January 15, 2020 modjen in 2019, Wellcome Trust, Zone Reports | Comments Off on Sustainability Zone Report – November 2019

Society Zone Report – November 2019

Read the report: Society Zone Report – November 2019 [PDF]

The Society Zone was a themed zone supported by the British Psychological Society. It featured six psychologists:

  • Phil Agnew runs a podcast called Nudge, which looks at behavioural science and consumer psychology.
  • Liam Wignall is researching how people interact with each other in different settings, with a focus on social media.
  • Kohinoor Darda has recently completed a PhD on the neural mechanisms of how we interact and imitate in the social world, but unfortunately had to drop out at the start of the event.
  • Karolina Urbanska is a research associate currently exploring how funny images or videos can affect our feelings and behaviour.
  • Jack Joyce, the winner of this zone, is a conversation analyst exploring how people use language and what that language can tell us about their culture.
  • Debbie Kinsey is studying for a PhD exploring how museums can help people with dementia to live a good life.
Posted on January 15, 2020 modjen in 2019, BPS, Zone Reports | Comments Off on Society Zone Report – November 2019

Roentgenium Zone Report – November 2019

Read the report: Roentgenium Zone Report – November 2019 [PDF]

The Roentgenium Zone was a themed zone supported by the Science and Technology Facilities Council. It featured six scientists:

  • Varun Ramaswamy, the winner of this Zone, is a PhD student at the Institute of Cancer Research, finding the shapes of different proteins in the body and uses data from sTFC facilities.
  • Samantha Firth is the Communications and Social Media Officer for STFC.
  • Rebecca Shaw is a Research Technician at the University of Aberdeen at the Institute of Medical Sciences.
  • Anna Kalorkoti is a materials scientist exploring how materials change when the world around them changes at a company that uses STFC facilities.
  • Alin Elena works at Daresbury Laboratory as a computational scientist.
  • Adam Washington works at the ISIS Pulsed Neutron and Muon source, building and maintaining instruments for visiting scientists to use.
Posted on January 15, 2020 modjen in 2019, STFC, Zone Reports | Comments Off on Roentgenium Zone Report – November 2019

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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.

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