Teachers: Connect your students with scientists

I’m a Scientist is a student-led, online enrichment activity that connects students with people working in a diverse range of roles in STEM.

Thanks to our funders, taking part is free for state-maintained schools. It’s a moderated, flexible activity, that is safe, secure and easy to use. It’s suitable for ages from 10 to 18.

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1. Give context to your teaching

The I’m a Scientist activity shows students real-life applications of their classroom studies.

“I would like to do this year-round, in all science lessons, across the school“

– Laurette, Teacher

2. Give all students an equal voice

The text-based platform supports all students in having a voice, and asking the questions that interest them. 

“… scientists in the classroom is good but you don’t have 100% engagement. I’m a Scientist takes that away: everybody’s got questions“

– Amanda, Teacher

3. Bring careers into the curriculum

Students get personalised careers advice from professionals in different workplaces with different career paths. 

I’m a Scientist meets 6 of the Gatsby Good Guidance Benchmarks.

4. Support students’ science capital

The activity introduces students to science professionals with whom they share personal interests and opinions.

Students make connections between science and their own lives, helping them see that science, and by extension, a science-related career, could be for ‘someone like me’.

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The I’m a Scientist activity

Your students take part in a themed activity of your choosing. These are matched closely to your curriculum, more general or to celebrate a special event (e.g. British Science Week)

During the activity, students: 

• Learn about up to 40 relevant scientists through their profiles, including their CVs
• Connect with a diverse range of scientists in 30-minute, text-based, online Chats
• Deepen their understanding and continue engaging with the scientists by sending follow-up questions
• Decide which scientist deserves the £500 winner’s prize
• Review their learning through a facilitated discussion

We have designed to support your teaching, including lesson plans, prompt sheets, transcripts and learning outcomes.

"Conversation ranged from professional to simple questions , they were answered with sensitivity and engaged pupils as they were able to converse on their level."

Teacher, 2021

"The students felt part of the wider community by being able to converse with people who do not know about their disabilities and therefore are not pre judged. All of them want to say how much they really enjoyed being able to engage at their level."

Teacher, 2021

"This is a brilliant opportunity to ask a range of scientists about their careers as well as developing their knowledge of science! ”

Teacher, 2021

“Today’s chat was fantastic. The class were so enthusiastic and full of excitement after the chat finished. I’ve had one child decide that he wants to be a physiologist and another who has decided that a career is science is their way forward.”

Teacher, 2021

“When students are engaged and start to see the real life impact of a subject, they’re more enthusiastic about it – I noticed an increased motivation to learn following I’m a Scientist.”

Emily Tulloch, Science teacher

"Students were enthused in different ways. We have a little book area in the corner of the room and it largely goes unnoticed. A student popped by during her free to look through a child psychology book on the shelves. This has definitely had the type of impact I was hoping for."

Teacher, 2021

"When you bring scientists into the classroom, it’s good but you don’t have 100% engagement. [I'm a Scientist] takes that away: everybody’s got questions to ask.”

Teacher, 2021

"The pupils loved it, have asked to do it again as well. What fascinated them the most was that the scientists were not necessarily the most academic at school but yet still became a scientist and so opens it up to anyone who is invested."

Rachel Causey, Caroline Chisholm School, 2022

“I was able to ask questions that are important to me and my interests.”

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More information

• Teacher Guidance
• Activity themes
• Safeguarding and privacy

Questions? Email us at support@imascientist.org.uk