CADET scientist takes part in 'I’m a Scientist, Get me out of here'
15 Jan 2016
Richard Unwin, Mass spectrometry lead in the Centre for Advanced Discovery and Experimental Therapeutics, Institute of Human Development, FMHS, was selected to take part in the November 2015 edition of the science outreach event "I’m a Scientist, Get me out of here"
Scientists are assigned to specialist ‘Zones’ for the two-week event, during which the five scientists in each zone take part in web chats with schools. During the second week of the event, pupils vote for their favourite scientist, with one scientist voted off each day until only one remains and is named winner of that Zone.
Richard was selected to take part in the Ageing Zone, which attracted over 400 students from 16 secondary schools across the country. He took part in 11 live web chats over the two weeks and answered 283 questions – more than any other scientist across all the Zones! As a result, Richard made it through to the final day of the event, but was pipped at the post by Zone winner Sara Falcone.
The event was well received by participants, both students and scientists. After the event, Richard said “This is probably the best outreach event I‘ve done. Talking to a class of 30 via a chatroom certainly gets your fingers and brain working quickly, but it’s amazing how quickly 30 minutes passes. I’d recommend everybody gives this a go!”
The official report of the Ageing Zone can be found at:
Take part
To take part in the next I'm a Scientist, visit:
The deadline is Sunday, 24 January.
The event will feature the Medical Physics Zone, Toxicology Zone, Biochemistry Zone and Fat Zone and takes place 7-18 March for British Science Week.