News & events
Robin and Jack make it a fusion double! | 23/03/2012
CCFE's Robin Stafford Allen and Jack Snape were both winners in this year's 'I'm a Scientist Get Me Out of Here' and 'I'm an Engineer Get Me Out of Here' competitions.
As previously reported, the contests are a chance for secondary school students up and down the UK to talk to real scientists and engineers, ask them questions about their work, and then vote for their favourites at the end.
After two weeks of rigorous questioning from the students, Robin and Jack survived the nerve-jangling daily eviction votes to emerge victorious in their respective Energy Zones. They both win £500 to spend on science and engineering communications activities.
Robin, a Mechanical Engineer at CCFE, comments: "The competition has been great fun. I spent many hours, particularly in the evenings, answering questions from the students (I had 53 one night). Some are predictable and then once in a while along comes a corker of a question, such as 'Would you have liked to be an engineer in the time of the Romans?' The chat-rooms gave me an insight into the life in the classroom. There was a heartening and very mature attitude in some 12 and 13 year-olds with questions showing concern for the environment and appreciating the advantages of fusion in the future.
"For Jack and myself to come out on top is the icing on the cake! I shall miss it next week. I will be giving the prize to the CCFE Sponsorship Fund, to donate to local primary and secondary schools to promote science and engineering projects."
Jack, a PhD student at the University of York who is affiliated to CCFE, adds: "I had an excellent time doing 'I'm a Scientist...'. There was a great mix of questions, from the deeply philosophical to the downright daft. Hopefully Robin and I have excited some future fusion scientists and engineers!"
Well done to both of them for winning these high-profile competitions and inspiring students up and down the country. For more details see:
http://imascientist.org.uk/2012/03/day-10-final-evictions
http://imanengineer.org.uk/2012/03/day-10-congratulations-to-the-winning-engineers
