Teachers: Connect your students with engineers

I’m an Engineer is a student-led, online enrichment activity connecting students with people working in a diverse range of roles in engineering.

Thanks to our funders, taking part is free for state-maintained schools. It’s a moderated, flexible activity, that is safe, secure, and easy to use. It’s suitable for ages from 10 to 18. You can take part when it suits you, throughout the school year.

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Support students’
science capital

The activity introduces students to STEM professionals with whom they share personal interests and opinions.

Students make connections that help them to see that STEM could be for ‘someone like me’. Find out more ❯

Inclusive
enrichment

A text-based platform gives all students an equal voice to ask their own questions.

“… scientists in the classroom is good but you don’t have 100% engagement. I’m a Scientist takes that away: everybody’s got questions.”
– Amanda, Teacher

Give context to
your teaching

I’m an Engineer shows students real-life applications of their classroom studies.

“I would like to do this year-round, in all science lessons, across the school.”
– Lauretta, Teacher

Bring careers into the curriculum

Students get personalised careers advice from professionals in different workplaces with different career paths.

I’m a… meets 6 of the Gatsby Good Guidance Benchmarks.

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How it works: The I’m an Engineer activity

Your students take part in a themed activity of your choosing. These are matched closely to your curriculum, more general, or to celebrate a special event (e.g. British Science Week).

During the activity, students:

• Learn about up to 40 relevant engineers through their profiles, including their CVs
• Connect with a diverse range of engineers in 30-minute, text-based, online Chats
• Deepen their understanding and continue engaging with the scientists by sending follow-up questions
• Decide which engineer deserves the £500 winner’s prize
• Review their learning through a facilitated discussion

Read more benefits to taking part ❯

We have designed resources to support your teaching, including lesson plans, prompt sheets and learning outcomes.

"Students were enthused in different ways. We have a little book area in the corner of the room and it largely goes unnoticed. A student popped by during her free to look through a child psychology book on the shelves. This has definitely had the type of impact I was hoping for."

Teacher, 2021

"Conversation ranged from professional to simple questions , they were answered with sensitivity and engaged pupils as they were able to converse on their level."

Teacher, 2021

"When you bring scientists into the classroom, it’s good but you don’t have 100% engagement. [I'm a Scientist] takes that away: everybody’s got questions to ask.”

Teacher, 2021

“When students are engaged and start to see the real life impact of a subject, they’re more enthusiastic about it – I noticed an increased motivation to learn following I’m a Scientist.”

Emily Tulloch, Science teacher

"This is a brilliant opportunity to ask a range of scientists about their careers as well as developing their knowledge of science! ”

Teacher, 2021

“Today’s chat was fantastic. The class were so enthusiastic and full of excitement after the chat finished. I’ve had one child decide that he wants to be a physiologist and another who has decided that a career is science is their way forward.”

Teacher, 2021

"The students felt part of the wider community by being able to converse with people who do not know about their disabilities and therefore are not pre judged. All of them want to say how much they really enjoyed being able to engage at their level."

Teacher, 2021

"The pupils loved it, have asked to do it again as well. What fascinated them the most was that the scientists were not necessarily the most academic at school but yet still became a scientist and so opens it up to anyone who is invested."

Rachel Causey, Caroline Chisholm School, 2022

“I was able to ask questions that are important to me and my interests.”

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More information

• Teacher Guidance
• Activity themes
• Safeguarding and privacy

Questions? Email us at support@imascientist.org.uk