• Question: what would you do with the prize money ??? :)

    Asked by imadonky to Charlie, Eoin, Jemma, Julian, Steve on 17 Mar 2011. This question was also asked by jackowagwan97, lumagirl7.
    • Photo: Charlie Ryan

      Charlie Ryan answered on 16 Mar 2011:

      Hi thanks for the great question.
      The university where i am a researcher is in the east end of london. Many parts of this area are deprived, and the university campus is opposite a very large council estate. I’d like to get this community more involved with the university that is one it’s doorstep. Currently, although there are some outreach programmes i do feel there is a divide between the local community and the university, Queen Mary.
      I’d like to bring in some students fromm local schools and colleges who have an interest in science to the engineering department at the university (where i work) and get them involved. I want to demonstrate that science and engineering can be a great and exciting career, and encourage them to pursue it!!

    • Photo: Eoin Lettice

      Eoin Lettice answered on 16 Mar 2011:

      Hi donky,
      I’m open to ideas. What do you think I should do with it?

      I think I want to improve my blog which I use to spread the word about science.
      http://www.communicatescience.eu

      I’d also like to buy some equipment like a video camera or voice recorder to record students like you having fun with science and then posting it on my blog!

      Eoin

    • Photo: Julian Rayner

      Julian Rayner answered on 17 Mar 2011:

      Donky, I think the answer is up on my profile page. Basically the Institute I work at was involved in sequencing the human genome, and does lots of really cool cutting edge work in genetics and sequencing. There is a really good schools program here, where science classes can come and see the cool kit and learn more about DNA and sequencing and human disease. I would use the money to cover the transport costs for inner city schools who couldn’t afford to come visit any other way.

    • Photo: Jemma Ransom

      Jemma Ransom answered on 17 Mar 2011:

      I’m really keen to get people like you guys thinking about science and considering applying to University, and thinking about becoming the next generation of scientists. Myself and a few colleagues at the University I work for regularly go into schools, parks, shopping centres etc and give talks and science demonstrations to the public to promote our work. If I won the money I’d put at least part of it towards running events like these. I’m also really keen to get A level students into the lab to do projects, I had one such student working with me recently and it was very rewarding for me (and I think them too) so I would also like to offer another student this opportunity with the rest of the money.

    • Photo: Stephen Moss

      Stephen Moss answered on 17 Mar 2011:

      Hi Donky

      I’d buy a video camera so that work placement students who spend time in the lab can make video diaries to share with their schools, friends (YouTube etc) and use on our web site.

      We have a regular stream of teenagers (mostly year 11 and 12) who come to our lab and spend a week seeing how science really works. I team them up with one of my PhD students or more senior researchers, and they see what kind of work we’re doing, how experiments don’t always work, and how things don’t always turn out as expected. I would like to arm those students with a video camera so that they can make a video diary of the time they spend with us. The videos would be great to post on-line, and for the students to share with their class-mates and teachers when they return to school.

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