I'm a Scientist, Get me out of here!


I'm a Scientist, Get me out of here! is an online science enrichment activity that runs three times a year in the UK. School students spend two weeks interacting with scientists in text-based live chats. At the end of the event the school students vote for their favourite scientist and the winner is awarded £500 to support further science communication.

Background

Pilots for I'm a Scientist, Get me out of here began in 2008, and were well received by school students and teachers. It was founded by Shane McCracken of Gallomanor Communications. The activity is divided into several zones, which focus on either general science or a specific industry. The funding for each zone is provided by an associated learned society, organisation or industry. The competition format is similar to The X Factor, and school students vote for the winner based on answers they receive to their questions submitted online and in live, text-based chats with the scientists. Participating scientists are given an opportunity to develop their communication skills whilst school students and teachers benefit from contact time with a real-life, practising scientist. The competition is also run for engineers, geoscientists, medics and astronauts.
The activity takes place annually in the UK, Ireland, Spain, Kenya, and Vietnam. It has also run in previous years in the United States, Malaysia and Australia.

Winners

I'm a Scientist (UK)

2010

2012

2012

2014