News

It’s the start of week 2 and students are back asking questions and having live chats. In a Cancer Zone live chat today students asked some amazing tough questions like: student: @clare do you think that salmonella or similar bacteria will ever be able to try and deliver new treatments for cancer directly to tumours? claretaylor : @student Salmonella is an amazing bacterium because it can invade your cells. All we need to do is harness it’s natural ability   After the chat scientist Clare said: “Wow! Wow! That was brilliant! I’m so impressed with them all … If that’s our future, we’re in safe hands!”   Over the weekend students in the Cancer Zone have been finding out how plants fend off disease, and what are the best ways of curing different types of cancer. Cells Zone students have been feeling the chill, finding out how cells adapt to … Continue reading →

We’ve had 372 questions and 24 live chats this week and now it’s time for everyone to have a well earned rest. In live chats today students have been getting to know the scientists: cupcakes5000 : have any of you ever fainted during an experiment, or at the sight of blood? louisestanley : @cupcakes5000 yes! I stab myself accidently with a needle before and I had to sit down for a bit! In the Cancer Zone students have been finding out if brain cancer could accidentally enhance your brain power and if we can use nanobots to cure cancer. While Cells Zone scientists have been letting us know about their worst experiments, giving us the lowdown on how cells come together to form an object and what blebbing is. And in Genes Zone students wanted to know if pathogens can die without being treated and if eating bogies is good … Continue reading →

With 6 live chats and over 100 questions coming in, it’s the end of another long but fun day… Scientists have been on the ball and as Callum said “I’m still a bit asleep but I’ll soon wake up when I have to start typing 100mph“ In live chats students have been asking: “was cancer around always? if so did neanderthals or early homo sapiens get cancer?“ and  student corinnetucker asked “does religion affect your science?” Scientist Clare said: “religion can affect science although not mine personally. Sometimes religion has an impact on what scientists are allowed to do because of the way people regard things“ In the Genes Zone we’ve also been finding out what the fear of peanut butter sticking to the roof of your mouth is called, and Cancer Zone scientists have been lending a hand explaining what the Higgs boson is. Cells Zone has gone mental today, … Continue reading →

Today’s live chats have been pretty intense… Cancer Zone got deep this morning asking “do you think we will evolve any more than we already have?” Students have also been asking why it’s easier to sleep when it’s dark and how long can people live after being diagnosed with cancer.   Cell Zone live chats have got students asking: “are brain cells slimy?” and “how many cells are in the reproductive system?” And all the Cells Zone scientists have been letting us know which cells they think are the most important.   Genes Zone students have been finding out about scientist Joanna’s arthritis confrence in America and asking: how does gene therapy work considering how small dna is?   With loads of live chats and questions scientists are starting to feel the strain but students definitely appreciate all their  hard work:  “thankyou very much for answering our question and also … Continue reading →

Today has been a very busy day! This morning’s Cancer Zone live chat with Fernhill school was pretty ‘EPIC’ with students asking: “do you believe in aliens and if so, do you think that they would have cancers to?” Student redpanda has also be asking “which section of the globe/country has the highest cancer statistics?”   Meanwhile  Cells Zone have been chatting about whether “it would be possible to genetically engineer a “biological battery” using the electrical impulses from nerves etc?” And student mobees11 wants to know why scientist Katie chose to study human egg cells.   Genes Zone students have been finding out how far back in your family you can trace a gene  and what would happen if your DNA suddenly disappeared. There are loads more live chats tomorrow, so students keep your questions coming!

And we have lift off! Chats have started, students are asking questions and scientists are busy giving them answers… Genes Zone is racing ahead, with students asking over 80 questions. They’ve been finding out if guinea pigs like cheese and who the IAS scientists’ favourite scientists are. Scientist Marcus has also been explaining what he does when he comes across a question he can’t answer.   Meanwhile students in the Cells Zone have been getting down to the nitty gritty, asking: “is it possible for cells to mix together?” and “can you get rid of rmsa?” And students in the Cancer Zone have been offering up their ideas for how to cure cancer. Scientist Susanne has also been explaining how the sea snail is helping us understand how our brains remember information. After a chat with Perth Academy scientist Katie said: “that chat was fun – but a bit crazy!” … Continue reading →

The November event  running from 12th – 23rd is just a few weeks away and so it’s time to announce who’s taking part! Schools This event is for teachers who have taken part in previous I’m a Scientist events, and they can choose which zone they want to join. We don’t have a list of all the schools in each zone as teachers are still deciding what zone they want to be in and booking their live chats. Scientists We were oversubscribed with scientists wanting to take part. As there are 3 themed zones lots of scientists weren’t researching the right area but have no fear, there will be space for a broader range of scientists in March 2013. Genes Scientists Louise Walkin University of Manchester Working out exactly how our bodies heal an injury, by using genetics to understand why some people are more prone to particular diseases. Louise … Continue reading →

Last week we asked teachers and students which scientists they’d like to see taking part this November. Scientists were rated solely on the one sentence descriptions they wrote about their work. Based on these ratings we’ve selected the scientists for each zone, and let them know they’re in. We’ll publish the full list of scientists when everyone has confirmed, but for the mean time here’s a taster of the scientists who’ve confirmed already. This time round teachers who’ve taken part before can simply choose which zone they want to be in – Cancer, Cells or Genes. All 3 zones relate to topics being taught in November, but if you haven’t yet decided which zone you’d like to be in this might help. Cancer Zone Pedro Velica is a postdoc from UCL who “tries to convince the cells of the immune system to find and kill cancer cells” and wants to … Continue reading →

Teachers, you’ve spoken! You’ve told us what you’re teaching in November. We’ve listened and selected the zones for 12th-23rd November from these topics. You’ve gone for: Cancer Zone Cells Zone Genes Zone Cancer Zone When we decided to run an event in November our first choice zone was a Cancer Zone. Since 2004 men have been growing moustaches during the month of November, as part of Movember, to raise awareness of men’s cancers. We’ve run popular cancer zones before, so why not run at the same time as a fun and global cancer fundraising effort? Moustaches also caught the attention of scientists who took part back in March 2012. Adam, Leila and Vicky formed #teamtash and even answered questions about moustaches.   Adam, Leila & Vicky of #teamtash Cells Zone When we asked teachers what they’ll be teaching in November, cells came up a lot. Cell division, cell membranes, cell … Continue reading →

In November we’re running I’m a Scientist in Ireland as part of Science Week Ireland, and are looking for Irish teachers and scientists to take part. This weekend Shane made his debut on Irish radio, on NewsTalk‘s science and technology programme Futureproof. He talked to Aoibhinn Ní Shúilleabháin (PhD student in Mathematics Education at Trinity College Dublin and former Rose of Tralee, no less) about I’m a Scientist running in Ireland for the first time this November. You can listen to the interview online at http://media.newstalk.ie/listenbacks/popup by selecting ‘Futureproof’ under Listen Back. We’re just after 18:30 minutes in. If you listened to it what did you think? Are you interested in taking part, either as a teacher or a scientist? If you’ve got any questions just leave a comment here, or on twitter (@imascientist) with the hashtag #IASIE.