Now well-established in the UK, I’m a scientist, get me out of here! is an opportunity for researchers with the X-factor to get involved in what one previous winner described as "One of the best and most efficient pieces of public engagement I've done".

The online competition is split into zones with five scientists from similar fields of research in each zone answering questions from secondary school students in intense real-time chats and via email at a steadier pace. 

This year’s competition began today and the CMS experiment is well represented in the Particle Physics Zone by Joel Goldstein of the University of Bristol and Kristian Harder of the STFC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory. They are joined by physicist Venus Keus of the University of Southampton, Tim Hollowood of the University of Swansea and Zachary Williamson, a researcher on the T2K experiment from the University of Oxford. Meet the scientists in the Particle Physics Zone.

As the competition progresses, the student inquisitors learn more about each of the scientists, their research, and what motivates them. Based on this information, the students vote to eliminate the scientists one-by-one until the winner is crowned!

The competition offers considerable benefits to the researchers who take part as Ceri Brenner, a previous winner explains, "It really helped me understand how to communicate my research to a wider audience. School students force you to use language anyone can understand."

I'm a scientist, get me out of here runs until 22 November this year.