Am I a Scientist? aims to break down current stereotypes of what scientists are and to showcase the range of diversity in terms of race, gender, disability, nationality, religion, sexual orientation and socioeconomic backgrounds, that in reality represents modern-day researchers and scientists, demonstrating that anyone can become a scientist.

The centrepiece of Am I a Scientist? is a free, interactive online quiz that challenges pupils to identify whether or not an individual is a scientist by first being presented with a personal profile of the person. Once they have made their decision the answer is revealed and if they are indeed a scientist, it tells how they came to follow science as a career as well as other lifestyle details.

The quiz currently features scientists from 18 countries that work at Norwich Research Park, which has the largest cluster of microbiologists in the UK as well as world-renowned scientists at its four world-leading research institutes, the university and the university hospital. There are also downloadable tools and promotional and educational materials.

The initiative emphasises that science is for everyone by offering relatable, visible role models and highlighting how the diverse careers and roles in science positively impact on all aspects of society.

The target audience for the resource is teachers and children at primary and secondary schools, who will be reached through local and national education networks. These groups are key for inspiring interest in science and challenging stereotypes at a formative stage of education.

Additionally, the project will also engage a wider audience through public engagement activities, such as social media campaigns and school science events.

As the resource will be freely accessible online, it has the potential to reach a global audience to support teachers, students and under-represented communities worldwide, fostering an inclusive approach to STEM education which can only bring benefits to the science community as a whole. The Am I a Scientist? resource is funded by the Quadram Institute.

The initiative is the brainchild of Dr Emma Waters, a researcher at the Quadram Institute. Emma, who grew up in Norwich, was inspired to pursue a career in science after participating in outreach activities as a teenager. Her passion for science led to her creating a physical exhibition called What is a scientist? for local schools and science festivals which received very positive feedback. That led her to developing the Am I a Scientist? activity.

Dr Emma Waters said, “I have a great job as a researcher at the Quadram Institute and have a passion to make sure as many young people as possible get the opportunity to investigate science as a career path. The feedback I received from the physical exhibition led me to thinking that there must be a way I could create something online that could be accessed by teachers, parents and young people, wherever they happen to be.

“To maximise inclusivity, we will engage with schools from deprived areas who typically have fewer opportunities to meet with real-life scientists, ensuring that children who may lack access to role models in science have the opportunity to benefit from the resource. We will also incorporate feedback from participants, teachers and under-represented groups to continually improve the platform and ensure that the content is tailored to their needs and provides real, scientific inspiration for students.“

Roz Bird, CEO of Anglia Innovation Partnership, the campus management company for Norwich Research Park, said, “There is a really strong argument for investing in careers education that will make a real difference to young people. An initiative like this, that comes directly from a scientist, is fantastic as it shows that science and research is a welcoming community. It is really important that we do as much as we can to engage with young people and inspire them about all the career pathways that are available in science.”