Teachers: Connect your students with mathematicians
I’m a Mathematician is a student-led, online enrichment activity that connects students with people working in a diverse range of roles in STEM.
Thanks to our funders, taking part is free for state-maintained schools. It’s a moderated, flexible activity, that is safe, secure and easy to use. It’s suitable for ages from 10 to 18.
The activity introduces students to STEM professionals with whom they share personal interests and opinions.
Students make connections between science and their own lives, helping them see that science, and by extension, a STEM-related career, could be for ‘someone like me’.
Your students take part in a themed activity of your choosing. These are matched closely to your curriculum, more general or to celebrate a special event (e.g. Maths Week)
During the activity, students:
Learn about up to 40 relevant mathematicians through their profiles, including their CVs
Connect with a diverse range of mathematicians in 30-minute, text-based, online Chats
Deepen their understanding and continue engaging with the mathematicians by sending follow-up questions
Decide which mathematician deserves the £500 winner’s prize
Review their learning through a facilitated discussion
"When you bring scientists into the classroom, it’s good but you don’t have 100% engagement. [I'm a Scientist] takes that away: everybody’s got questions to ask.”
Teacher, 2021
“Today’s chat was fantastic. The class were so enthusiastic and full of excitement after the chat finished. I’ve had one child decide that he wants to be a physiologist and another who has decided that a career is science is their way forward.”
Teacher, 2021
"Conversation ranged from professional to simple questions , they were answered with sensitivity and engaged pupils as they were able to converse on their level."
Teacher, 2021
"Students were enthused in different ways. We have a little book area in the corner of the room and it largely goes unnoticed. A student popped by during her free to look through a child psychology book on the shelves. This has definitely had the type of impact I was hoping for."
Teacher, 2021
"This is a brilliant opportunity to ask a range of scientists about their careers as well as developing their knowledge of science! ”
Teacher, 2021
"The pupils loved it, have asked to do it again as well. What fascinated them the most was that the scientists were not necessarily the most academic at school but yet still became a scientist and so opens it up to anyone who is invested."
Rachel Causey, Caroline Chisholm School, 2022
"The students felt part of the wider community by being able to converse with people who do not know about their disabilities and therefore are not pre judged. All of them want to say how much they really enjoyed being able to engage at their level."
Teacher, 2021
“When students are engaged and start to see the real life impact of a subject, they’re more enthusiastic about it – I noticed an increased motivation to learn following I’m a Scientist.”
Emily Tulloch, Science teacher
“I was able to ask questions that are important to me and my interests.”