For the second year running, researcher Dr Ben Still has fought off fierce competition to take out the top gong in I’m a Scientist, get me out of here!, a unique competition combining science, excited school kids and X Factor-style voting.
Supported by the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) and the Wellcome Trust, the UK-wide competition pitted scientists against each other in a battle to win over the hearts and minds of secondary students around the country for a £500 cash prize.
Dr Still, from Queen Mary's Department of Physics won the 'Subatomic Zone', one of two zones sponsored by the STFC, in the reality TV-styled competition which involved answering students’ challenging questions online via live chat forums and messages.
Dr Still said: "It’s such a fantastic competition to be involved in. I want to thank all the students who voted for me. It’s a great way to learn how to communicate your work to a younger audience and connect with them. They showed great enthusiasm and initiative with their questioning.
“I really enjoyed it – the competition really gives you a different perspective to your work and makes you realise why it’s so great to be a scientist.”
Dr Still is planning to use the money to produce a series of podcasts and a documentary “for everyone to enjoy”.
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