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It’s day 3 of the live chats and there’s no let up in the quality and quantity of questions! Interesting topics covered include blind people’s dreams, zombie invasions and whether aliens could be edible! Did you know… Some people think zombies really exist: grovez : could there ever be a zombie invasion ? benbrilot : unlikely, but actually zombies exist according to some philosophers. A zombie is technically someone who behaves exactly like any other person, but who has no self-awareness, they have no idea that they exist or why they’re doing what they’re doing We can’t trust our memories: sessess : So talking about memory, is it true that every time you remember something you’re actually only remembering the last time that you remembered it? (if that makes any sense…) michaelcraig : Great question again. Over time are memories can change, for example if you remember something you did … Continue reading →

Second day of chats and we’ve had loads of great questions coming in. The scientists have been busy in live chats and answering questions you’ve left in ask. Today we’ve covered everything from diamonds raining down on Neptune to underwater volcanoes to sleeping dolphins! Did you know… There’s diamond rain on Neptune: shaphinaaa : what is the most interesting fact you’ve learnt throughout your career? martinarcher : Scientists are full of interesting facts, so I couldn’t pick just one. But here’s an example: did you know on Neptune we think it rains diamonds! racodk : Rains diamonds? haha, I want to go there! Underwater volcanoes exist: louisekempxo : Can you get underwater volcanos? glynbarrett : sure! they are amazingly beautiful and the lava as it cools forms amazing shapes proscientist123 : really underseas volcanos that is stupendous Dolphins sleep with half their brain: subtlemoonspirit : What is the wierdest thing you … Continue reading →

It’s been a hectic first day of chats and the range of questions asked and topics covered has been huge! From video gaming surgeons to why our fingers go wrinkly in the bath, the students have uncovered some pretty fascinating stuff. Did you know… Video gaming surgeons are better at operations: isaacimogen41 : How do you think people will benifit from playing computer games phillipwilkinson : There was a study that showed surgeons who play video games as a hobby could perform operations faster and with less mistakes! So video games can help with motor-function. So your ability to do things with your hands is the most obvious. Synthetic life forms may exist in the future: kimjombamabinil : is it possible that in the future we will be able to synsthesise life? alessandroguazzi : definetely! Someone’s working towards that! Craig Venter is the main pioneer but we’re still at the … Continue reading →

Live chats start on Monday! There are already lots of questions queued up for the scientists to answer in ‘Ask’  but the real fun begins on Monday when the live chats start. The scientists have been very busy filling out their profiles and we can’t wait to hear the students’ questions – hope the scientists are up for the challenge! Check this out… Glyn in Technetium Zone has uploaded some cool pictures of his research studying dangerous bacteria and tells us all about his work in the greenhouse and the lab, and he’s not the only keen scientist in Technetium… …as there’s fighting talk from seafood-loving fisheries officer Debbie who tweeted: “Our zone is definitely going to be the best! we have the best schools as well” Grant in Food Zone (a.k.a. Doctor Bubbles) wins best profile joke – What do you get if you divide the circumference of a pumpkin by … Continue reading →

It’s time to announce the scientists and schools taking part in next I’m a Scientist event, running from March 11th-22nd 2013. We were really oversubscribed with both scientists and schools this time round. 6 scientists applied for every place. There were a lot of great scientists doing fascinating research we had to turn down. In November 2012 one scientist said “I had an amazing experience and that was down to the enthusiasm shown by [the students] for Science, both weird and wonderful!”. I’m sure this event will be the same. Schools wanted 36% more classes than we have space for. 140 teachers will be taking part with schools from Penmaenmawr to Jersey, and Montrose to the Lizard Peninsula. A teacher in November 2012 explains why she wants to take part again – “it was a really enjoyable way to ‘open’ pupils eyes to what is possible.”     Brain Zone Scientists … Continue reading →

We’ve already announced 5 themed zones for March – Brain, Drug Development, Health, Medical Physics & Space (the last 2 are funded by the Institute of Physics). And now there’s more good news… thanks to more funding we’re adding 2 more themed zones. This gives places to 10 more scientists and 50 classes of school students. The zones are: Digital Zone Funded by the RCUK Digital Economy Theme. This looks at how we can harness the power of technology and the internet for societal benefit. Food Science Zone Funded by BBSRC and the University of Nottingham. This gets students exploring the science behind the food we eat.   Scientists wanted! There’s still time to apply to take part in the Digital or Food Science zones. If your research fits apply by Monday 4th February at imascientist.org.uk/scientist-apply

It’s that time of the year again, and it’s come round really fast, again. I’m a Scientist is back this March 11th – 22nd during National Science & Engineering Week and we’re looking for teachers and scientists to take part. Teachers, sign up here to take part by Monday 21st January: imascientist.org.uk/teachers Scientists, apply by Monday 28th January: imascientist.org.uk/scientist-apply Back before Christmas we asked teachers what zones they’d like to see, and they responded in force. We used their votes to choose the zones. As it stands we’ll run 10 zones, as ever a mix of themed and general zones. We’re part funded by the Wellcome Trust so half the zones are biomedical. The themed zones will be: Brain Zone This has gone down really well in the past. The winning scientist will also get to take part in I’m a NeuroScientist, LIVE! in April, as part of the BNA … Continue reading →

After a fun-filled 2 weeks of live chats and student questions, it’s time to say well done to the student winners in each zone! Moderators and scientists have nominated students in each zone who asked lots of interesting questions, engaged well in live chats or left some thought provoking comments. The winners get a £20 WH Smiths voucher and a certificate. We’ve also listed a few runners up in each zone who also asked lots of great questions.   And the students winners are: Cancer Winner: henryjones for asking loads of great questions about cloning, mutations and diseases and asking the scientists more challenging questions in his live chat. Runner up: jackyboy1999 for asking  lots of questions about curing cancer and gene therapy. Runner up: celt105 for asking great questions about cell blebbing and cells living in space, and asking some good questions in live chats.   Cells Winner: cheechee … Continue reading →

That’s all folks! After 10 days of crazy, intense live chats and over 500 mind boggling student questions, it’s time to say goodbye (until next time) and reveal the winner in each zone. Congratulations to:   Zone Winner Where they work Cancer Zone Robert Insall                         Cancer Research UK Cells Zone Callum Johnston University of Edinburgh  Genes Zone Jo Giles Cardiff University /Arthritis Research UK     Students were voting right up until the last few minutes and in some zones it came down to only a few votes. The winning scientists all receive £500 to spend on science communication, and we can’t wait to see their wonderful ideas put into practice! Thank you to all the scientists who took part. It’s been great fun and students really appreciate all your hard work. Student niamhh28: “Thank you for chatting with us and for all of your interesting and informative answers!” Teachers … Continue reading →

And then were two… Today students voted out Mariana, Katie and Marcus, leaving just two final scientists in each zone. At 3pm tomorrow we’ll be announcing the winners, so students make sure you vote for who you want to win! Will it be Susanne or Robert in the Cancer Zone? Will it be Sam or Callum in the Cells Zone? Will it be Jo or Adam in the Genes Zone? Student georgieholiday said: “everyone gave awesome answers, no one should be evicted!”   Highlights from today’s live chats include: raphael88: didnt they try putting nose cells into paralzyed dogs recently. I remember reading that in the news callumjohnston: yes they did, The cells from the nose are already nerve cells but hey can keep replicating because they need to be replaced (when you blow ur nose and things they get damaged) so you can put those nerve cells into the … Continue reading →