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We’ve been blown away by your brilliant and creative questions, comments and answers from the first two weeks of the MRC Festival Zone! Below is a handpicked selection of standouts (so far) to celebrate the halfway point of the event. Keep visiting the ASK page to put your questions to the scientists and support staff, and who knows, maybe your question will make it onto next week’s list? Without further ado, let’s dive in… 1. Bloodiest ASK Question Unfortunately, not long at all! But Nathan says there was a ‘beheaded’ chicken from the 1940s who apparently lived 18 months after it was beheaded! “It managed to live,” Nathan says, “because its brainstem and blood supply was left intact — the areas responsible for vital functions in organs such as heart and lungs.”   2. Weirdest ‘Typical Day’ “I’m usually found in the lab sprinkling pollution onto bits of lung.” What!? … Continue reading →

Ashrea, congratulations! Each week the scientists taking part in the MRC Festival Zone will nominate their top student – one who’s made the most of the event, shown enthusiasm and asked some really great questions. St John Wall Catholic School student Ashrea was nominated because of their really interesting questions in a live chat. They’d clearly thought about the scientists’ research and came up with questions specific to their fields of study, such as asking Liza about air pollution and Helen about ethics in animal testing. Ashrea also asked “Do you think dreams are linked with our subconscious thoughts?” which we think is a fantastic question! As the student winner, Ashrea will bag a £20 voucher and certificate! Want to be in with a chance of winning? Keep ASKing the scientists about their work and join in the next evening chat, 7-8pm, Wednesday 20th June.

Log in between 7 and 8pm for another chance to talk to the scientists and support staff in the zone!   Continue asking your brilliant questions in this special after-school live chat. Just log in and head to the CHAT page from 7pm! Why not show your friends and family you’re talking with real scientists? Introduce them to the scientists and support staff, and invite them to pose their own question about Virtual Reality, mosquitoes, stem cells, tinnitus and more…   How to join the evening chat Log in to the MRC Festival Zone as normal Click the CHAT icon Start asking your questions!   See you tonight! ModAmy and the MRC Festival Zone team

Machopiggies, congratulations! Each week the scientists taking part in the MRC Festival Zone will nominate their top student – one who’s made the most of the event, shown enthusiasm and asked some really great questions. Machopiggies is from Ysgol Rhosnesni High School, and was nominated for their great ASK questions, especially: Have you considered that prisoners contemplate suicide, or do it, because they feel that their life is at a complete loss? I think if activities or small jobs that pay tokens for non-contraband equipment (please don’t ask me what), maybe it could significantly drop the suicide and mental health rate of prisoners? One scientist nominated machopiggies for “an incredible ASK question, and showing real care for all people in society, as well as thinking of ways to make life better for them.” As the student winner, Machopiggies will bag a £20 voucher and certificate! Want to be in with a … Continue reading →

MRC Festival Zone is taking place between the 4th and 29th June! Over four weeks students, at nearly 50 schools, will put their questions to 25 MRC-funded researchers and support staff competing for votes in the zone. The online event is part of this year’s nationwide MRC Festival of Medical Research. From Kent to Belfast, from Norfolk to the Shetlands, students will get to challenge the scientists in fast-paced live chats and thought provoking ASK questions about medical research. What’s more, the scientist with the most votes from students on Friday 29th June will win £500 to fund their own ideas for public engagement with research! Use the map below to find out more about the schools and scientists taking part in the MRC Festival Zone this year: For the latest news and announcements about the event, find us on Twitter, @imascientist, and follow the hashtags #MRCFestival and #IASUK.