Skype a Scientist

Skype a Scientist matches scientists with classrooms around the world! Scientists will Skype into the classroom for 30-60 minute Q and A sessions that can cover the scientist’s expertise or what it’s like to be a scientist. We want to give students the opportunity to get to know a “real scientist”, and this program allows us to reach students from all over the world without having to leave the lab! We have over 2000 scientists ready to chat, and teachers can choose the type of scientist that will fit their classroom. Let’s start a conversation!

For Scientists

Skype a scientist gives you the opportunity to connect with students around the world without having to leave your lab!

We match scientists with k-12 classrooms, and once matched, you will video chat into the classroom for a 30-60 minute session (you don’t have to use skype). The format is Q and A style so that the kids feel they’ve had direct contact with scientists. We want to put a friendly face to science and lower the intimidation factor that surrounds science for some students. There are many lectures available on youtube by scientists, so don’t feel like you have to prepare a lecture, just have a conversation!

We recommend that you give your teacher an overview of what you do. It’s super helpful if you have something the teacher can share with his/her students, e.g. youtube videos, a ted talk, or blog posts related to your work. If you don’t have any of those things, just a laymen overview of your work is okay too!  Students will prepare questions ahead of time so that they’re ready with conversation starters when the you call in.
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One of the awesome things about this program is that we can reach classrooms anywhere, especially areas of the country (and the world) where kids wouldn’t necessarily have access to science museums or naturally run into scientists in their every day life. You can sign up for as many or few classrooms as you think you’ll have time for this semester.sted from the program.