I’ve forgotten my password, what do I do?
Will all my questions get answered?
Why hasn’t my question been answered yet?
Chat seems to be blocked, what can I do?
I’m having problems with the website. What should I do?
Why are the scientists in the Gallery in that order?
How can I stop people from bothering me when I’m trying to take part in I’m a Scientist?
There are also more detailed answers to questions asked specifically by teachers and scientists.
How do I register?
You can only register if your school is taking part in the event. If so, you should get an access code card from your teacher. You need to enter the access code from that card on the website homepage and pick your own username and password – write them down so you don’t forget them because you can’t log in without them.
How do I log in?
If you have already registered with an access code you can just log in at www.sanger.imascientist.org.uk using the username and password you picked when you registered. If you have forgotten your password then click on the ‘forgotten password’ link.
Scientists do not need to register at all as we’ve already done that for you. Just enter your username (usually ‘firstnamelastname’ all in lower case please) and the access code we sent you as your password.
I’ve forgotten my password, what do I do?
Don’t worry, there’s various things to try:-
1. We emailed a copy of your username and password when you registered. If you can, go back and check that email.
2. If you’ve deleted that email, or you can’t check it at the moment, then click on the forgotten password link and we can email it to you again.
3. If that doesn’t work (for example, if you didn’t give us an email address) then your teacher can email us at admin@imascientist.org.uk telling us your name and username. We’ll then email your teacher a new password for you.
What is this site about?
As part of the Wellcome Trust’s 75th anniversary celebrations we are running a special event, Genome Futures, that has been developed by the Public engagement team at the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute and I’m a Scientist, Get me out of here!
The Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute is a research centre that was a leader in the Human Genome Project. It is now focused on understanding the role of genetics in health and disease.
The Sanger Institute is giving local students the opportunity to explore genome research and how it may affect them in the future. They will get to quiz a panel of Sanger Institute researchers in a live CHAT, and ASK anything about the researchers, the research at the Institute or how understanding the information held in the human genome may affect their future lives.
The students and Sanger Institute scientists use this website to talk about genomic research, exchanging ideas and opinions on the impact genomics may have on science and society. They both break down barriers, have fun and learn.
What can I do on the site?
Students can:
- ‘Meet’ the scientists working at the Sanger Institute
- ASK them questions
- Let scientists know their opinions
- Find out what real scientists are like and what they do all day
- Engage in live discussion about real-life science at the Sanger Institute
- CHAT live with scientists and ask them questions
- VOTE for the scientist they think has best described their work
Scientists can:
- Engage with young people
- Contribute to science education
- Hear what students and teachers have to say about science
- Hear about the work other scientists are doing
- Connect with local school students
Teachers can:
- Show their classes how science works in the real world
- Download and use lesson plans and resources
- Get support for teaching the How Science Works part of the curriculum
- Build connections with the Sanger Institute
- Make science lessons fun!
We hope everyone will find it useful, engaging, and enjoyable. Explore the site, check out the scientists’ profiles, the live chats and all the questions that have been asked before, and… have fun!
Will all my questions get answered?
Nearly all questions will be answered.
If you ask a really rude question, moderators will take it out. Sometimes scientists get asked the same question many times: moderators will take out repeat questions and add your name to the first one.
Actually answering questions, of course, is up to the scientists.
Why hasn’t my question been answered yet?
This is a very common question!
Firstly check that it hasn’t been answered yet. Your answered questions should appear on your profile page. We will also email you to let you know if we have your email address, but sometimes our emails go into the spam folder.
Secondly, give it some time. Scientists are real people with jobs, they’re volunteering their own free time to answer questions. Scientists will answer all the questions they can, as quickly as they can, but it might take until the next day.
Also, if two students ask the same question then we’ll delete one but put both students’ names on the one we keep. So your name may be there but not your exact words. The scientists may also have answered your question in their profile.
If you think your question hasn’t been answered because of a technical problem, please email rosie@gallomanor.com for help.
Chat seems to be blocked, what can I do?
There are a few things that are most likely stopping the chat system from working. They are quite techy so you may want to refer your IT support technician to this page:
1. The chat system uses Javascript. You need to have Javascript enabled and this is normal.
2. Many schools use net filters based on keywords such as chat. Please ask for www.sanger.imascientist.org.uk to be whitelisted.
Please contact us on 01225 869413 if you’ve checked this and it still doesn’t work.
I’m having problems with the website. What should I do?
Lots of problems can be caused by cookies not working on your machine. Make sure cookies are turned on.
You may occasionally not be able to see the latest pages or answers. Usually clicking refresh will sort it out. If not, try clearing the cache (Tools>options>clear cache or clear/delete private data, in most browsers).
If you’re still having problems please email support@imascientist.org.uk or visit the staffroom between 9-5 during the event.
Why are the scientists in the Gallery in that order?
The scientists appear in the Gallery in reverse alphabetical order (we mean, people called Z first and people called A last). This is because research has shown that people whose names begin with letters near the start of the alphabet tend to be more successful in life (http://www.quirkology.com/UK/Experiment_surname.shtml). Maybe because they are always first in lists!
Here at I’m a Scientist we think life should be more fair, and we try to do our bit to make it fairer. So we are putting the people from the end of the alphabet first for once.
How can I stop people from bothering me when I’m trying to take part in I’m a Scientist?
Tired of being interrupted during question time? Can’t concentrate during live chats?
Well worry no more!
We’ve come up with a great way to stop this from happening in the form of a ‘Do not disturb’ – I’m a Scientist special – sign! Click below to check out the cool design!
Print this and all your problems solved!
How do I give feedback?
All feedback is greatly appreciated. We take everything you tell us on board and this helps us to make the event even better each time. Positive comments are also very welcome and make us feel good about all the work that goes in.
If you have any comments please email us at rosie@gallomanor.com or contact the Public Engagement team at the Sanger Institute at pubengage@sanger.ac.uk. We look forward to hearing from you!
