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Harris Girls’ Academy’s Year 8 students recently entered a competition called ‘I’m a Scientist Get Me Out of Here’, with our involvement organised by Mr Anwer. 

I’m a Scientist is an online activity where school students connect with scientists. It’s an X Factor-style competition between scientists, where students are the judges. Students challenge the scientists over fast-paced online text-based live CHATs. They ASK the scientists anything they want, and VOTE for their favourite scientist to win a prize of £500 to communicate their work with the public.

This was a chance for our students to connect with real scientists. Our girls researched the work of a range of different scientists, intereacted with them, and decided who they felt had made the biggest impact on the communities around them. 

HGAED scientist at work.

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Interviewing and questioning

Students were encouraged to examine the scientists’ profiles and think about what they might like to ask them. It was a chance for students to discuss interesting things they have found out about the scientist and their work, and do research before their live chats with the scientist themselves. 

The live chat session enabled students to speak in real-time with the scientists.  Students used interviewing and questioning skills to help them make a decision about which scientist they felt had the most impact on society. This was a very engaging experience and enjoyed by all who took part!

Ask, Chat, Vote

The competition had 3 sections: Ask, Chat and Vote. 

Ask: students could ask the scientists whatever they liked. Questions were posted online to the scientists any time and they answered by the next day. Students left an email address and received an email when it had been answered. Questions and answers in the ‘Ask' section stayed on the site and students could look around and see what others had asked. 

Chat: There was a 30 minute live chat, where students typed their questions to the scientists and chatted in real time. The students were supported in preparing their questions but came up with great ideas and thinking ‘outside of the box’. 

Vote: Students decided which scientist should win a prize of £500 to communicate science with the public. 

Thanks very much to all who were involved to make this event happen, it is highly recommended!

Ms Jones, Assistant Principal