Latest news

BIG is seeking members for a position on the Executive Committee. If you think you have something to offer us and to get a lot back in return, please visit www.big.uk.com/agm. The closing date for nominations is 1st July and all positions will be subject to an online vote by members.

We are pleased to announce that the Visitor Studies Group's summer seminar has been arranged to coincide with the first morning of the BIG Event - and delegates can join the seminar for the concession rate of just £30.
 
Wednesday 20th July 2011 - 9.45am - 2.00pm
Find out how Visitor Studies have informed the development of two new exhibitions, visit the galleries and discuss new methods in an interactive workshop.
•Join in on a tour of the newly-opened M-Shed and discover the formative work conducted in process of redeveloping this important local museum.
•View a showcase of the formative work undertaken in the development of 60 interactive exhibits for At-Bristol’s All About Us exhibition.
•Share your latest and most innovative Visitor Studies tools and techniques in a creative workshop. Bring along an example of a tool, device or question that you’ve recently discovered to discuss in the workshop.
 
You can find out more and register online: http://www.visitors.org.uk/node/434

Or register for the BIG Event here: www.big.uk.com/bigevent

Taking on the role of delivering BIG’s annual high profile keynote speech this year will be Miles Bullough, Head of Broadcast and Executive Producer at Aardman Animations. Miles is responsible for the development, finance and production of Aardman’s television series and specials including Shaun The Sheep, Timmy Time and Wallace & Gromits World of Inventions

Miles will talk about the challenges of running creative projects, the highs and lows of managing creative people, and  experiences from Aardman on balancing quality, innovation, and the needs of audiences. These are daily endeavours for BIG delegates, and we look forward to a lively discussion and debate!

Prior to joining Aardman, Miles was MD at Absolutely Productions Ltd; the producers of Trigger Happy TV, The Jack Docherty Show, Meg and Mog, Armstrong and Miller, Stressed Eric and many more comedy and entertainment shows. Miles started his media career as a runner on the Michael Caine film ‘The Whistle Blower’ before joining ‘After Image’, a small independent based in Brixton, South London which specialised in making arts programmes for Channel 4 where he multi-tasked his way up to production manager. He then became Head of Production at IPH Westhall Ltd, a company that provided production, legal, and financial services to independent producers such as Charlie Parsons’ Planet 24 for The Word, The Walt Disney Company for Disney Time and the GMTV Saturday morning shows Rise and Shine and Saturday Disney.

There is still time to register for this year's BIG Event - from just £60 - at www.big.uk.com/bigevent

BIG is delighted to announce that it is offering 3-4 bursary places to cover registration fees for the BIG Event and give limited travel and accommodation support to BIG members who are in the first five years of their professional career and have not attended a previous BIG Event.

To apply for a conference place through the bursary, please click here: www.big.uk.com/Default.aspx?pageId=984913

If you have already registered and paid to attend the BIG Event, you are still eligible to apply for a bursary. If you are awarded a bursary, your fees will be refunded.

The deadline for completed bursary applications is Friday 29 April 2011.

Two new skills-enhancing workshops for Presenters:  "Voice Coaching" and "Improvisation Skills" are announced for the BIG Event 2011.

Delegates will also have an opportunity - for the first time ever - to sign up for one-on-one surgery sessions with experts from inside and outside the field on matters such as insurance, business development and marketing. To see the full range of really exciting programme updates for the BIG Event 2011 - including brand new shows - please visit www.big.uk.com/bigevent

The BIG Executive Committee are now recruiting for an Event Coordinator for the BIG Event and Little Event 2012 on a part time, freelance basis.

The contract period will be 1 October 2011 – 31 October 2012 and a fee of £3000 is offered.
The workload fluctuates considerably throughout the contract period and will equate to a maximum of 30 days.

For a full job description and application requirements, please visit the jobs page.

There is still time to save £50 off the full conference package if you register and pay by the end of this month.

The BIG Event is the most exciting event in the STEM Communicator’s annual professional and social calendar. This year's event in Bristol will feature its trademark mix of professional development, opportunities to debate the future of the sector through targeted discussion, the best science shows currently travelling the UK circuit and a range of sessions designed to strengthen delegates and their organisations.

BRAND NEW for 2011...

 •         Experience cutting edge science show development – using magic, incorporating ‘play’, developing production values, and learning from commercial theatre.

 •         Increase your impact across STEM: including a focus on maths engagement, working on and offline, using formative evaluation

 •         Debate the current issues in learning and influence educational research – including primary science, curriculum changes and the link between informal and informal learning.

 •         Learn how to work with unique partners: festivals, nightclubs, and corporates.

View the programme and register for your place by clicking here: www.big.uk.com/bigevent

Registration for the BIG Event 2011 is now LIVE!  Be sure to take advantage of our special early bird deal – a full £50 off the conference fees – available only until March 31st.

The first draft of the programme can be viewed at:

http://www.big.uk.com/bigevent

This year's event is going to be BIGGER and better than ever with some brand new, exciting sessions in the pipeline. Check the site for updated programmes that will be available regularly until the event.

The BIG Event is relevant for artists, presenters, archaeologists, educators, students, front of house staff, evaluators and anyone involved in STEM communication whatever their field.

Explore @bristol are the latest centre to sign up to offer free admission for BIG members producing a valid membership card. This latest offer will save members £12.50 each time they visit for the next 2 years!

Smash a wine glass with sound, generate power for a house, make a digital camera – volunteers needed…!

Do these things sound intriguing? Are you interested in communicating science to a young audience?  Lab in a Lorry needs volunteers with a scientific background for events across the country this academic year.

Lab in a Lorry is an interactive mobile laboratory which gives young people (11-14 year olds) the opportunity to explore science through open-ended experiments.  Volunteers guide the students through the experiments (oil and viscous liquids, sound and resonance, light scattering and colours, climate change and energy sources, optoelectronics) and makes sure everyone gets to be involved through hands on experience.

What would I have to do?
You’d be asked to oversee an experiment for the day.  On the morning of an event, you’d receive training on the Lab and we send you all the background material in advance.

We ask that volunteers commit to a minimum of one full school day but you are welcome to come along for as many days as you like - we have plenty of freebies for you, such as
T-shirts, magnets and your very own Lab in a Lorry, see the picture below! You also receive free affiliate membership to the Institute of Physics.
More information?

To find out more about what’s involved in volunteering for Lab in a Lorry and where we will be touring, visit our website: http://www.labinalorry.org.uk where our tour schedule is always up to date and contact me on the details below to sign up. Volunteers are the key to the success of Lab in a Lorry and I hope that you will become part of the team.