News

“I’m a Scientist was such an inspiring experience” – November 2019 winners’ blog posts

After every event we ask the winning scientists to write a short post to be sent to all the students who took part in the zone. It’s the perfect way for the scientists to reflect on all the engagement of the previous weeks, thank all the students for voting for them, and talk about how they plan to use their €500 prize money.

If you’re a scientist, whether in the public, private or academic sector, and you’re keen to experience the ‘best crash course in scicomm’, applications are open year round: imascientist.ie/scientists Continue reading →

Posted on December 16, 2019 by modmichaela in News | Comments Off

What Hugh Manning did with his prize money…

Hugh was voted the winner of the New Materials Zone in November 2018. Here he writes about using his prize money to host a STEM careers day for students from all over Ireland at the Advanced Materials and Bioengineering Research Centre, where he works. If you’d like the chance to win funding for your own public engagement work, apply for the next I’m a Scientist, Get me out of here: imascientist.ie/scientist-apply. I won I’m a Scientist in November 2018 and I used the money to host a Science & Careers event in the Advanced Materials and Bioengineering Research (AMBER) Centre, based in Trinity College Dublin. I invited students from all around Ireland to learn about STEM careers from a variety of AMBER researchers. The goal was to show that what ties all STEM fields together is the focus on solving problems and creating new knowledge, and in that, there is something for … Continue reading →

Posted on May 29, 2019 by in News, Winner Reports | Comments Off

“I have spoken to the scientists of the next generation” – November 2018 winners’ blog posts

After every event we ask the winning scientists to write a short post to be sent to all the students who took part in the zone. It’s the perfect way for the scientists to reflect on the previous two weeks, thank all the students for voting for them, and talk about how they plan to use their €500 prize money.

Here’s what November’s winners had to say… Continue reading →

Posted on November 23, 2018 by in News | Comments Off

‘I’ve been able to look at my research in a new light’ – November 2017 Winners blog posts

After every event we ask the winning scientists to write a short post to be sent to all the students who took part in the zone. It’s the perfect way for the scientists to reflect on the previous two weeks, thank all the students for voting for them, and talk about how they plan to use their €500 prize money.

Continue reading →

Posted on November 24, 2017 by modmichaela in News | Comments Off

Widening Participation

One of the long term goals of our projects is to reach more schools traditionally under-served by STEM outreach activities.

The Aspires project, from King’s College London has shown that science capital is a key factor in terms of students aspiring to science and STEM careers. Science capital refers to knowledge about science and how it works, interest, understanding, and contacts (knowing somebody who works in science). Continue reading →

Posted on December 12, 2016 by ModJosh in News | Comments Off

November 2016 Winner Blogs

After every event we ask the winning scientists to write a short blog to be sent to all the students in who took part in the zone. It’s a great way for the scientists to reflect on the previous two weeks and thank all the students for voting for them.

Let’s take a look at what the November Winners had to say…

Continue reading →

Posted on December 8, 2016 by modmichaela in News | Comments Off

Farming Zone – Project Wrangler required

As part of this year’s activity we are running a non-school zone similar to our Learning Zone – just with farmers instead of teachers. We are looking to run the zone in November and we now need to recruit someone to run the project with us. Ideally we’ll find someone who understands the research in the area and knows the irish farming community. We have a full job specification. It’s could be a full time role or something part-time depending on the applicant. Please get in touch via email or on the phone – +44 1225 326892 – if you are interested.

Posted on July 22, 2016 by iasieadmin in News | Comments Off

Demand vs. Capacity for I’m a Scientist and I’m an Engineer Ireland

In the I’m a Scientist Ireland project pilot in 2012 we ran three zones, since then we have run four zones every year. While we were under capacity in the pilot, the demand for the activity from teachers has remained relatively consistent and looks to be increasing. Assuming the trend carries on, we would easily be able to run a fifth or even sixth zone in November this year. The story in I’m an Engineer is a little different. For the past couple of years we have run two I’m an Engineer events each year; one with the I’m a Scientist event in November, and one in February to coincide with Engineers Week Ireland. In the first year, we saw teachers favouring the November event albeit only slightly, in 2015/16 though we saw a huge shift towards February, with demand being almost twice what was expected. The increased demand is too big to come only … Continue reading →

Posted on June 2, 2016 by ModJosh in Evaluation, News | Comments Off

“Being able to reflect on my choices with you has been pretty inspirational!”

After every event we ask the zone winners to write a short blog post to be sent to all the students in who took part in the zone. It’s a great way for the scientists to reflect on the previous two weeks and thank all the students for voting for them. Let’s take a look the winners from I’m a Scientist Ireland 2015 had to say… Sinead, Drug Synthesis Zone I didn’t realise at the time I signed up just how much I would be waiting in expectation of the next chat, or for new questions to appear in the ASK section. Talking about science with you guys, on your terms and with your questions, was enjoyable and an honour. Being able to share my love of science with you filled me with a sense of pride and really reminded me what science is for: to learn and to pass … Continue reading →

Posted on December 15, 2015 by in News | Comments Off

November 2014 Event Evaluation Report

In November 2014 we ran I’m a Scientist in Ireland for the third time, and we run our first I’m an Engineer event in Ireland. We ran four I’m a Scientist and two I’m an Engineer zones. Two of the I’m a Scientist zones were themed (Evolution and Sustainability) and two of them were general (Boron and Beryllium). One of the I’m an Engineer zones was themed (Energy) and the other one was general (Kelvin). This report looks at how the event went. Our key findings were: Students are inspired to learn more about science and get interested in science related jobs Students understand what engineers do and what engineering is all about Scientists and engineers consider they have improved their communication skills Scientists and engineers get enthused about public engagement and want to do more of it after taking part Download the report here.

Posted on December 10, 2014 by in Evaluation, News | Comments Off

What can you do?

I want to take part with my class ❯

I want to take part as a scientist ❯

I want to find out about funding I’m a Scientist ❯

What is I’m a Scientist?

I’m a Scientist, Get me out of here is an online activity where school students get to meet and interact with scientists.

It’s a competition between scientists, where the students are the judges.

Students challenge the scientists over intense, fast-paced, online live CHATs. Then they ASK the scientists all the questions they want to, and VOTE for their favourite scientist to win a prize of €500 to communicate their work with the public.

Follow @imascientist