News

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 →

Today 3 more scientists were voted out of the competition, sorry to Clare, Michelle and Louise S. Who’ll be next to go? Only students get to decide, so get voting to save your favourite scientist!   Highlights from live chats today include: whatisa: what if cells were bigger and heavier katiehowe: cells are all diff sizes, eg sperm are very small and have a tail so they can swim, and eggs are fat and round so they can sit and wait for the sperm! if they were heavier we might not be able to lmove our body as it would be too heavy! ben14: where do dead blood cells go michellelinterman: dead red blood cells leave your body in your poo! that is why it is brown! busybodyscientist: if you smashed a cell like you would smash a rock, would the cell squish into a slimy thing, or would it … Continue reading →

Today was the first eviction, and we’re sorry to see Pedro, Gina and Louise W go. With evictions happening every day this week, students get voting if you want your favourite scientist to stay in the competition! Cells Zone has been jam packed today with 3 intense live chats. Students and scientists have been chatting about: cheechee: how do you know if the cells are communicating in your research? michellelinterman: great question! When white blood cells talk to each other we know because what they look like changes. When they chat, they tell each other to do things, and we can measure what they do and how they look! angelejoseph3: why are older mothers more likely to have eggs with the wrong number of chromosomes? katiehowe: older mothers ahve eggs with the wrong number of chroms as their eggs are very old (a woman is born with all her eggs … Continue reading →

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 →