• Question: would you only use the money for science and improving or would you use it for other things personal to you?

    Asked by naqvint01 to Richard, Prateek, Liz, Jim, Amelia on 13 Jun 2011.
    • Photo: Jim Caryl

      Jim Caryl answered on 13 Jun 2011:

      Well, the money we would win has to be used for a science communication project, so it should be something that is useful to us, but more importantly, be something that is useful to people like you.

      My aim would be to go out into a local school and take them through an experiment to look at the bacteria on their hands, or another such experiment. The money would allow me to purchase the necessary materials, take pictures of all the bacteria so those children taking part could have a photo of the goo on their hands, and win a prize for the cleanest hand, or most crazy bacteria hand.

    • Photo: Lizzard O'Day

      Lizzard O'Day answered on 13 Jun 2011:

      If selected I’d use the money for “Proyecto Chispa” (which in spanish means project Spark) which is a new program I set up w/ some friends at Harvard to send recycled computers to orphanages in Latin America. We install educational software on the computers, such as learn math, science and so much more. I hope the computers will be the “chispa” or spark the kids need to continue learning. I started the program about a year ago and so far we have sent 90 computers. I got the idea to start this when I went to visit one of the orphanages, I sponsor a little girl in the Mexican orphanage and while there, I had my laptop w/ me- she was so excited to use it. It made me realize how much they need technology and better access to educational resources. I’d use all the money to help fund this project which happens to be very personal to me- so I guess it’s a bonus. Thanks for the question!

    • Photo: Richard Badge

      Richard Badge answered on 13 Jun 2011:

      I would use the prize money just for telling people about science… as I love talking to people about science it would be fun for me, which is reward enough!

    • Photo: Amelia Markey

      Amelia Markey answered on 13 Jun 2011:

      I’d use the money to run an event for some of you to come and be scientists for a day. Hopefully this will help your understanding of science and scientists and should also be great fun. Doing these sort of events is kind of personal to me as I really love promoting all science not just my work.

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