Privacy policy sounds dull and TBH is dull, but what website is complete without one? So here is the I’m a Scientist privacy policy that tells you what information we collect about you and what we do with it.
What information do we collect about you and why?
Upon registration we ask for your real name, your school, and your email address. Each young person on the site gets to ask questions, take part in live chat and they get to vote once per voting round. Therefore we need everyone to have their own username. We need your email address so that we can tell you when your questions have been answered and to tell you who has been voted off. We need your real name and school so if you win a student prize ($50 iTunes voucher) we can send it to you. If you are a prize winner we will need to share your name with the school. If you object to this please email privacy@imascientist.org.au
During the event our computers put a session cookie on your computer. If you block this cookie the site can’t work, so please don’t do that. A session cookie is a small file that identifies who you are. It allows you to vote once, to ask questions and take part in live chat showing the screen name you choose (we will never put your real name on the site). After you log off the cookie is removed from your computer.
As you use the site we do record some information that could be traced to you. We record how you vote so we can check the evictions are done fairly if necessary. This information NEVER gets released though.
We also record what questions you ask and what you say in Live Chat. We do this so the scientists know who they are talking to at least they know your username. We also record when you log-in and where you log-in from (your IP address). We log the IP address so that if someone registers on the site claiming to be someone else then we can see where they are logging on from. It also helps us track any technical issues.
That sounds like a lot but it doesn’t get given away and nobody will be able to trace it to you.
How do we use the information?
Your real name NEVER gets used without your permission EXCEPT if you break our house rules severely and we need to contact your teacher. This has never happened in I’m a Scientist. Anything you put on the site is just linked to the username you chose.
Your email address is only used to contact you about the event, to let you know your questions has been answered, to let you know who has been evicted and to ask you for feedback about the event. Whenever we email you there will be an Unsubscribe option at the bottom of the email.
We certainly do NOT share your information with anyone else. No companies, no sponsors.
Scientists: The same goes for scientists except that we email you about the event for the following year and other events that we feel you may be interested in. Your email will never be shared and you can always unsubscribe. Your mobile phone number will NOT be used after the event has finished.
If you have any questions about this privacy policy please email privacy@imascientist.org.au