“I’m a scientist get me out of here…” ok now that’s out of my system, to the point.

Thank you. To every student that took part, to every teacher that encouraged them, to everyone who made this event possible. But mostly to the amazing thinkers, the individuals and the true scientific minds budding, there in schools.

You questioned not only us, but also the world as we know it.  My absolute favourite question asked (not word for word but this is how I saw it): that if there were such a reality as mutants like in “X-Men” how would we as a society cope?  Questions like this made me so happy, I knew looking at this question that the student asking it was a “deep thinker”, I hope my answer was worthy of the question.

Also the question about injections verses pills, showed me that where students are today in their thinking is more advanced in where I remember being. While there are times we take modern advances for granted we rarely question them, students like this give me hope for the future of science and society as a whole. We cannot fail with minds like these.

When I first heard of this program I was naive, I thought that I would never achieve what I have in this event. I thought that there are much more worthy scientists out there, indeed I competed against some truly brilliant people. I am still humbled to have won; Nisha, Vee, Katie and Sallie were so very much worthy winners in their own right. It’s only thanks to the students that I won, but I still regard the others as winners too, they put so much in and deserve recognition for their efforts too.

I would very much like to visit every school I interacted with, this may be possible but needs a lot of work. I would so very much like to show you all the fruits of your votes and show you how I see the wonders of science. I would like to be showing students even when I am old and you are the scientists of the future. I have set into place a group of my colleagues to discuss how best to use this grant to communicate our work, we have asked for further help from our governing bodies and hospital.

My work takes me to places and people, it teaches me the frailty and strength of humanity. It shows me that now matter how much we learn, there is always more to know, more to see and more to share. I hope that no matter how much I learn, there is still room for more.

I have loved, loved, loved every second of my experience in “I’m a scientist, get me out of here” and the students have made me want to keep on working, talking and enjoying science. .

Thank you all again for your support in my goals, you have my support in yours.

Many thanks,

Bob.