• Question: If you really value your work/research then why are you giving the money away and not using it to expand your work/research?

    Asked by sophie100 to David, Luna, Mark, Melanie, Probash on 18 Mar 2011 in Categories: .
    • Photo: David Pyle

      David Pyle answered on 16 Mar 2011:

      Great question @sophie!

      My current research work is well funded (I have some grants from government) – but I have to spend the research money in particular ways. The money from this competition is extra – money which we can spend in creative ways to support science, and to inspire the next generations of scientists. Things like this are really valuable – because it can be hard to find ways to become more ‘engaged’ in science communication without having a big team to support you. Thank you IAS2011 for giving us all the opportunity!

    • Photo: Probash Chowdhury

      Probash Chowdhury answered on 16 Mar 2011:

      The company I work for pays for the work I do. Also “I’m a Scientist” says we’re not allowed to we should use the money for the same thing this event is about – to communicate and inspire science:

      The winning scientist will get £500.

      The money must be for publicising or communicating the scientist’s research (or research area). This could mean lots of things – visiting schools, putting up a website, printing leaflets, commissioning a poem, painting a mural – any form of science communication.

      The money doesn’t necessarily have to be spent on their particular research work; the winning scientist could use it for general science communication… for example, arranging class visits to a laboratory.

      The money won’t go to their research because £500 just isn’t enough to make a difference… research is very expensive! But £500 could be enough to make a science communication project happen, when it wouldn’t do otherwise. Because the winner has to spend it on communication, students can be sure they’re making a difference.

    • Photo: Melanie Stefan

      Melanie Stefan answered on 16 Mar 2011:

      Hi Sophie, it’s part of the idea of “I’m a Scientist” that we don’t use the money for our own research, but for some sort of scientific communication or engagement activity. That way, more people benefit from it.

    • Photo: Luna Munoz

      Luna Munoz answered on 18 Mar 2011:

      I’ve been waiting to answer because student chats have really influenced my choice of what I would do with the prize money. I plan to visit schools to give them an experience of psychology as a science by doing driving simulations!

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