Match enrichment to your curriculum. When booking an activity, choose a theme that matches your teaching. This invites 40 scientists whose work relates to that theme.
These themes will be available throughout the whole year, so you can take part whenever suits you best.
Please let us know if there are other themes you would like to see us offer. Email: support@imascientist.org.uk
Book your ActivityGeneral Science (including Primary curriculum topics)
- General Science
- Animals and Zoology
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Climate Change
- Computer Science
- Earth
- Ecosystems, Ecology, and Habitats
- Electricity
- Energy
- Environment
- Ethics
- Evolution
- Food Production
- Forensics
- Health and Safety
- Health
- Humans
- Light
- Marine and Oceans
- Materials
- Motion and Forces
- Physics
- Sound
- Space
- Sports and Exercise
- States of Matter
- STEM Careers
- Working Scientifically
Biology
- Biology
- Animals and Zoology
- Animals in Research
- Biochemistry
- Cancer
- Cells
- Ecosystems, Ecology, and Habitats
- Evolution
- Food Production
- Forensics
- Genetics
- Homeostasis
- Humans
- Imaging
- Immunology
- Inheritance, Chromosomes, and DNA
- Microbiology
- Nervous System
- Neuroscience
- Nutrition and Digestion
- Photosynthesis
- Plants and Botany
- Reproduction
- Respiration and Gas Exchange
- Skeletal and Muscular Systems
- Sports and Exercise
Health
- Health
- Biomedicine
- Cancer
- Cells
- Drug Therapies
- Epidemiology
- Forensics
- Genetics
- Hormones and Endocrinology
- Imaging
- Immunology
- Infection
- Nervous System
- Neuroscience
- Nutrition and Digestion
- Pharmacology
- Physiology
- Public Health
- Reproduction
- Respiration and Gas Exchange
- Skeletal and Muscular Systems
- Sports and Exercise
- Vaccines
Chemistry
- Chemistry
- Atomic Structure
- Batteries
- Chemical Reactions
- Collision Theory and Rates of Reaction
- Detection and Measurement
- Earth
- Electricity
- Elements, Compounds, and The Periodic Table
- Energy
- Energy Changes
- Environment
- Food Production
- Forensics
- Imaging
- Inorganic Chemistry
- Manufacturing
- Materials
- Meteorology, Atmosphere, Climate, and Weather
- Nanotechnology
- Nuclear
- Organic Chemistry
- Particles and Matter
- Physical Chemistry
- Plastics and Polymers
- Renewable Energy
- Spectrometry and Spectroscopy
- States of Matter
- Structure and Bonding
Physics
- Mechanics and Thermal Physics
- Motion and Forces
- Nuclear
- Particles and Matter
- Quantum Mechanics
- Quantum Technologies
- Radioactivity
- Renewable Energy
- Sound
- Space
Earth and Environmental Sciences
- Earth and Environmental Sciences
- Climate Change
- Earth
- Environment
- Food Production
- Geoscience
- Marine and Oceans
- Meteorology, Atmosphere, Climate, and Weather
- Recycling
- Rivers
- Sustainability
- Waste
Technology
- Technology
- Aerospace
- Artificial Intelligence (AI)
- Batteries
- Communications
- Imaging
- Manufacturing
- Robotics
Computer Science
- Computer Science
- Computing
- Artificial Intelligence (AI)
- Communications
- Data Science
- Software
Theme resources
Marine and Oceans
71% of our Earth’s surface is water – we interact with it in so many ways, most of which are unfamiliar to students. Marine sciences are all around us. They help us understand marine resources, habitats, and pollution, developing ways to use and protect our oceans.
In Marine and Oceans Chats, students connect with scientists working on anything from aquaculture and food production to conservation, marine engineering, and renewable energy. They’ll find out how science works, outside of the classroom, in their local environments and beyond.
Questions other students have asked:
- How does a dolphin adapt to the ocean?
- What does it mean to build a farm in the sea?
- What inspired you to research fish health?
Resources to help prepare:
Marine and Oceans themed Chats are funded by Lantra and Salmon Scotland.
Places are fully funded for state-maintained schools.
Cancer
Cancer is a leading health issue worldwide, with 1 in 2 people developing it in their lifetime. This makes it a major area of scientific research, as well as a subject very familiar to young people.
In Cancer themed Chats, students connect with the people working to address this real-world challenge. They see their studies of health, non-communicable disease, genetics, and medicines reflected in world-leading, cutting-edge biomedical research.
Students discover how research impacts human health. They’ll learn how cancer sciences bridge processes from diagnosis, through drug development and clinical trials, all the way to translating data into the clinic to make a difference in people’s lives.
Questions other students have asked:
- Do you think there will ever be a cure for cancer?
- Has your work made any impact on the research of cancer and if so, how?
- How do mutations occur and what do they change to cause cancer?
Resources to help prepare:
Cancer themed activities are funded by the Institute of Cancer Research and the University of Manchester’s Division of Cancer Sciences.
Places are fully funded for state-maintained schools.
Health and Safety
Students who are preparing to enter the workplace will be familiar with the importance of adhering to the quality standards; maintaining health and safety.
In ‘Health and Safety’ themed Chats, students connect with lab technicians, apprentices, and other people working in STEM to explore how they ensure responsibility for health and safety welfare at work.
Genetics
In Genetics Chats, students see classroom topics like inheritance, genetic disorders, and adaptation applied to real-world scenarios and careers. They connect with scientists whose work is applying and advancing our knowledge of genetics across fields like health, forensics, biodiversity, and food production.
Chatting with geneticists can make a complex subject seem less intimidating. Students build on their learning to explore how genetics is improving their world, while finding common ground with the people who are making it happen.
Questions students have asked:
- Could we edit some genes of animals to help them adapt to climate change?
- Why do I have grey eyes when my family has blue or brown eyes?
- What’s your opinion on using genetics to stop or reverse ageing?
Resources to help prepare:
- STEM Learning – Inheritance, DNA and variation
- NHS Genomics Education Programme
- Jeans for Genes – Educational resources
- BBC Bitesize – Inheritance and genetics
Genetics-themed activities are funded by the Institute of Cancer Research, GenSoc, and the NMGN.
Places are fully funded for state-maintained schools.
General Computer Science
In General Computer Science Chats, students interact with diverse people who apply computing skills in their work. Students connect with real people to start breaking down off-putting stereotypes and fostering their sense of belonging.
Leading broad-reaching conversations helps students explore the areas of computer sciences relevant to them. General Computer Science Chats bridge curriculum topics, like data and coding, programming, systems, and cyber security.
Students see their studies applied to real life and across varied roles and industries, from health, to law enforcement, to creative media. They can discover the value and personal relevance of computing skills to further study, careers, and their everyday lives.
Questions students have asked:
- Do you have any tips for me to get better at coding?
- Can artificial intelligence be dangerous?
- How do you reduce bias in AI when training it on datasets that may have bias in them?
Resources to help prepare:
- NCCE – Teach Computing Curriculum
- NCCE – ‘I Belong’ Programme
- Computing at School Resources
- BBC Bitesize – Computing
General Computer Science activities are funded by the NCCE. Places are fully funded for state-maintained schools.
Physics
Physics themes support students’ exploration of how the world around them works. Topics range in scale from subatomic particles to the whole universe, and everything in between. Students can discover the part physics plays in their lives.
Conversations bridge curriculum topics like forces, particles and matter, electricity, space, and energy. Students see their learning in real life, outside of the classroom.
Physics Chats connect students with software scientists like Michael, astronomers like Vicky, and nuclear materials scientists like Calum. Students get personalised responses from physicists whose work helps us to understand our world.
Questions students have asked:
- How does sound travel underwater?
- Where can physics take me in the future?
- Do you see nuclear reactors switching from fission to fusion?
Resources to help prepare:
- STEM Learning – list of STFC resources
- IOP – classroom resources
- UKRI – nuclear physics
- UKRI – particle physics
Physics-themed activities are supported by STFC. Places are fully funded for state-maintained schools.
CERN
CERN (“Conseil Européen pour la Recherche Nucléaire”, or in English; European Council for Nuclear Research) investigates the structure of particles around us. They use the world’s largest and most complex scientific apparatus, and are well known for the Large Hadron Collider (LHC).
Conversations will link to physics topics such as; particles, matter, forces and energy. Students can explore how nuclear energy can contribute to society. They’ll take part in authentic conversations with people who have first hand experiences of working at CERN.
Questions students have asked:
- How long did it take to build the LHC?
- Is it possible a black hold could form from the work you are doing?
- How do you keep the inside of the particle accelerator clean?
Resources to help prepare:
- STFC – Particle Physics Resources
- CERN Youtube Channel
- CERN Educational Resources
- Large Hadron Collider (LHC) – STEM Org
CERN-themed activities are supported by STFC. Places are fully funded for state-maintained schools.
Quantum Technologies
Quantum technologies are not new, most mobile phones use quantum technologies in their semiconductors, although with new tech advances companies claim to use it for additional security and communication.
Conversations about quantum technologies could lead anywhere, a few new ideas are that it could help us tackle climate change, discover new drug treatments or be used in encryption for IT security. These will encourage learning objectives in forces, particles, energy, cyber security and more.
By connecting with scientists working in this field, such as Quantum physicist Adam, or experimental physicist, John, students will be able to find their own connection to quantum technologies, and potentially suggest more.
Questions students have asked:
- Do you think there is a quantum realm?
- How much quicker will quantum computer work than traditional ones?
- How will understanding quantum help us in the future?
Resources to help prepare:
- Explore Quantum Computing – NQCC UKRI
- Quantum City Resources – UK National Quantum Technologies Programme
- STEM Org – Quantum Tech
- A short guide to quantum tech – BBC Ideas/OU video
Quantum Technologies-themed activities are supported by STFC. Places are fully funded for state-maintained schools.
Animals in Research
Animals are sometimes used in research to help better understand the impact human disease has on our body as well as the safety of new treatments. It’s an ongoing conversation of competing ideas. The use of animals in research is an ever-present debate.
In ‘Animals in Research’ themed Chats, students connect with scientists who use organisms, like mice, in their research. They’ll ask the questions that interest them to scientists who are committed to improving the welfare of the animals in their care.
Questions students have asked:
- Is there an alternative to testing on animals?
- What kind of genetic modifications have you done with mice?
- Is there any false information in the animal testing industry?
Resources to help prepare:
Animals in Research-themed activities are supported by MRC National Mouse Genetics Network. Places are fully funded for state-maintained schools.