News

This November we’ve got some exciting new STFC-funded zones running alongside three zones teachers have asked for and two general zones: Ecology Zone – Looking at the natural environment – plants, animals and their interactions – whether on land or in water Extreme Clean Zone – Funded by STFC. Covering everything from scientists working in clean room environments to soap and detergent science and decontamination, this new zone will investigate what it means to be really clean Genes Zone – Genetics is a pretty broad topic, from DNA damage and cell growth to proteins and genetic diseases, this zone is open to all Particle Physics Zone – Funded by STFC. This zone will explore the fundamental objects of the universe: particles of matter and radiation. Scientists could be working on high energy particle accelerators like the Large Hadron Collider at CERN, trying to make sense of the huge amounts of data collected in these massive experiments, or looking at some of the … Continue reading →

So we’ve just wrapped up the June 2013 event, and we’re already storming ahead with lots of future plans. To make it even easier for you to plan your schedule and to take part, here are the I’m a Scientist and I’m an Engineer event dates for our next events: 11th – 22nd November 2013 — I’m a Scientist UK plus I’m a Scientist Ireland 10th – 21st March 2014 — I’m a Scientist and I’m an Engineer (during National Science and Engineering Week) 16th – 27th June 2014 — I’m a Scientist and I’m an Engineer Teachers, sign up here: imascientist.org.uk/teachers Scientists, apply here: imascientist.org.uk/scientist-apply

After each event we ask all of the moderators and scientists to select students who they think asked great questions and engaged really well in the chats. Well done to all of the student winners below, and also to the runners up and everyone who took part – so many of you came up with interesting questions and comments and were both polite and enthusiastic, but we could only pick one winner in each zone…

Zone Winning Scientist Employer Animal Behaviour Suzanne University College London Antimony Becki KU Leuven Blood Andrew Royal Liverpool University Hospital Cadmium Becky University College London Cells Mario University College London Crystallography Dave University of Manchester Disease Lyn Babraham Institute, University of Cambridge Earth Simon British Geologial Survey Energy Rhod University of Bath Extreme Speed Sam Observatoire de Lyon Hormones Keith University of Cambridge Human Limits Alan University of Brighton Indium Jess University of Bath New Materials Stu University of Sheffield Quantum Dave University of Nottingham Reproduction Chris University of Manchester Silver Sarah-Jane University of Essex Tin Hannah University of Manchester Thanks to all of the students who took part and voted, we’re looking forward to the next event! There’s lots of excitement on Twitter…

Top two (or three!) scientists announced in each zone On the penultimate day of the competition, we’re down to just 2 scientists in each zone. The votes were tied in both the Quantum Zone and the Reproduction Zone, with 3 scientists in each of these zones remaining in the running for the prize money – every student vote really does count! Today’s highlights: In the Reproduction Zone, we learnt how to treat wasp stings and not to eat zebra fish… tararuby00 : Why do wasp and bee stings really hurt? chriswhittle : They are based on acids and alkalis, bee stings are acidic I think, wasps alkaline. Best thing to do with a wasp sting is rub on vinegar! — peterprules : can you eat zebra fish or are they poisonous albertolapedriza : they are not poisonous, but I dont think they are very tasty either In the Animal Behaviour … Continue reading →

The final three We’re down to the top 3 scientists as voted for by the students, but who will make it to the top two? Today’s highlights: In the Indium Zone, some interesting eclipse facts: dhynoable : How does a solar eclipse occur christinapagel : it’s when our moon is exactly in the way of the sun… by coincidence the moon is 400 times smaller than the sun but the sun is 400 times further away so they look the same size to us! dhynoable : So are we lucky that were in the right place for it to happen christinapagel : yes we are! and eventually we won’t get them anymore as the moon as gradually moving further away from us Over in the Human Limits Zone they were talking about the future of computers: Do you think that in 200-300 years time that computers will be able to … Continue reading →

The first eviction The competition was on leading up to today’s first evictions. We’ve just lost one scientist from each zone (though we hope they’ll still take part in some chats!), leaving four to battle it out for the prize money. Keep voting! Today’s highlights: In the Disease Zone, it was all about genetics, from baby blue eyes to criminal minds: miasinnett : why do babies have blue eyes when born? peterbalfe : Great question, their melanin cells don’t switch on for several months after birth. miasinnett : are criminals born with a different type of cell that makes them want to kill or do they develop it? peterbalfe : There is no “criminal” gene… eelynlim : not that we know of! but there is a genetic condition that makes them more aggressive than other people, we’ve found an unusually high number of these guys in prison! In the Silver … Continue reading →

Evictions start tomorrow It’s week 2 and tomorrow sees the start of  the evictions, who will be first to go? Get your votes in! Today’s highlights: In the Tin Zone, we learnt why there are so many seagulls: percypig1 : why do sea gulls fly over the sea? hannahbrotherton : because this is where they breed and nest. But we have more seagulls than ever and this is because of landfills. they love to eat rubbish lol percypig1 : because if they flew over the bay they would be bagels They got creative over in the Earth Zone: If you could find a new element, what would it do and what would you call it? In the Crystallography Zone they were discussing the good and the bad of oxygen: charliee : why is ozone able to kill us but oxygen helps us survive if they are both made of oxygen davidbriggs : good question – … Continue reading →

The halfway point Week 1 may nearly be over, but we have the evictions to look forward to next week! The power is in the hands of the 5,000+ students. Today’s highlights: A great question on gravity and spiders in the Disease Zone: sapphireskyjen : is it true that if earth had less gravity, spiders would die? katybrown : hmm, maybe! I guess the heavier you are, the less gravity you need – would all the spiders float away? That would be OK by me. eelynlim : i’m not sure about spiders! but the rest of us might not do so well, either – our skeletal structures are suitable for this kind of gravity. whales, who live in the sea, have a different bone structure altogether! 10whittao : but without all the spders, flies would take over the world peterbalfe : If the flies weren’t all killed they estimate in a year we’d be walking … Continue reading →

At day 4 we’re nearly half way through the event. Hope you’re all chatting, asking and voting! Today’s highlights: In the Cadmium Zone we found out how extra suns might have affected humans: How would humans have evolved differently if we had multiple suns? We found out what a brain stimulator is over in the Human Limits Zone: tess2fisher : what is the most intresting equitment you use? emmaross : the most interesting bit of kit I use is the brain stimulator. you hold it over someones head, and it sends a small signal to thier brain which tells their muscles to move. It means that we can move peoples arms or legs without them thinking about it – very cool! I have had someone faint because they didn’t like the feeling of thier muscles moving without them trying! A headache-inducing question in the Quantum Zone: Where is the Universe? It gives … Continue reading →