BIG Event 2025

Royal Institution, London, UK
16-18th July 2025 

Home of the Christmas Lectures, Faraday and Discourses, BIG is thrilled to be returning to The Royal Institution in 2025. It's a triple BIG year for the RI as 2025 marks the 200th anniversary of Discourses and the Christmas Lectures.

In addition to the 2.5 days of sessions on anything and everything to do with STEM Communication, we'll also be taking advantage of the amazing facilities and staff at the RI. Who's up for doing demos in the iconic Faraday Lecture Theatre?!?

The content for the BIG Event is created by the members. And the people who say they get the most out of it are the people who contribute the content.

This will be a hybrid BIG Event. As many sessions as possible will be delivered as hybrid events, so if you can't get to London in-person, you can still join us online.

View previous year's programmes below: 
Winchester in 2018: BIG_Programme_2018.pdf
Edinburgh in 2019: FINAL_BIG_Programme_2019.pdf
Belfast in 2022: BIG_Programme_2022_5.pdf
Birmingham in 2023: BIG_Programme_2023.pdf 
Cardiff in 2024: BIG_Programme_2024_FINAL.pdf

Tips to save money

As amazing as the RI is, it also happens to be in a rather expensive part of London. But, BIG being the frugal organisation it is, has some tips on ways you can attend the BIG Event at the RI for less.

1. Propose a session to become a Speaker! The BIG Event programme is created by the attendees. And we know the people who get the most out of the Event are the ones who contribute the most. And being a Speaker is the CHEAPEST way to attend the Event.

2. Book the BIG Event Early! Booking opens 1st April 2025 and the Early Bird gets the discount, so plan ahead and book early.

3. Save this date in your diary - 23 April 2025. This is 12 weeks before the BIG Event and is about the time that Advance train fares are available. These are generally cheaper than waiting closer to the time to book your train travel. Have a look at this excellent article from Money Saving Expert on ways to save on your train travel: https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/travel/cheap-train-tickets/ The article has lots of great tips, even if you are reading this after April 23, so still check it out. Your pocketbook will thank you.

4. Book accommodation early. Like train travel, the sooner you can book your accommodation, the cheaper it will be. BIG is working on sorting out some cheaper University Accommodation. As soon as we've got the details, we'll post them here. However, if University Accommodation doesn't float your boat - BIG would like to remind you that London has great bus and underground services. So don't hesitate to book a hotel/Airbnb that is further out of central London. 

5. Get your employer to pay for your ticket. If your employer needs more convincing to pay for you to attend BIG...

6. Apply for the RI's Family Fun Day. BIG Event Delegates are being encouraged to contribute to the RI's FFD, a day when the RI opens it's doors to approximately 600 people - families with kids between 6 and 12 - to deliver activities and demonstrations all across the building. See this page for more details and deadlines. 

7. Apply for a Bursary. The BIG Event Bursary will cover your ticket, BIG Membership, accommodation, travel and any other reasonable expenses. 

Accommodation

We're in the process of reserving rooms in the student halls for those wanting cost-effective and extremely convenient accommodation at the BIG Event. These rooms will be on a first-come-first-served basis. Watch this space. 

Bursaries 

BIG bursaries provide financial assistance to enable members to attend one of our events.

BIG offers a handful of bursary places which will:

• pay registration fees for the BIG Event
• one year's BIG membership
• give reasonable expenses to support your attendance at the BIG Event

For full details and to apply, see our Bursaries page