There are only three working days remaining to submit your session ideas for the BIG Event, 18-20 July 2018, Winchester Science Centre and Planetarium
Time's running out! The deadline for proposals is
Tuesday 27 February
Propose your session at www.bigevent.info
Now is your chance to fling your session ideas into the ring for the BIG Event 2018 at Winchester Science Centre & Planetarium - 18-20 July, 2018
Once we have a ring-full we flirt the programme together, put people together who might like to work together, and ask a few people to do something a bit different. Your session ideas can be put forward now until 23 February on the BIG Event session proposals site www.bigevent.info
Bring a show, a workshop, something needing tweaking, something you think is fab; bring your skills in evaluating, managing, developing, presenting, fettling; bring your planetarium, your STEM tap-routine, your busks, your IPad session. But whatever you do, make it hands-on, make it collaborative, make it a truly sharing contribution. BIG members really don’t like to be spouted at – we like to have a go at a thing so bring the thing, not a picture of the thing or a talk about the thing.
Things that will be especially great at Winchester Science Centre and Planetarium:
They have an awesome planetarium! If you do things with planetariums and want to use this space as it was intended to be used, get in touch and we'll see if we can make it happen. There is outside space! We'll have access to a grassy picnic area, so if you wanted to do messy things not suitable to indoors, Winchester has a place for you.
And finally, Winchester has a workshop which we *might* be able to use. If you have a session idea that can only take place in a workshop, just make a note of it on the proposal site and we'll see what we can do.
As ever this time of year, we are very much looking forward to seeing your session ideas gush on to the proposal site www.bigevent.info
Come and check-out the newly revamped, mobile-friendly BIG website. Find out what we do, what events are coming up and read our info pages to help you start your career in Science Communication.
If you are lucky enough to be a member, you also have access to lots of extra information including:
As always BIG is an organisation run for its members, by its members so if you have any skills or knowledge you’d love to share with the BIG community or feel that anything is missing please do you let us know - or even better write something for the website or organise a Skills Day. Just get in touch to find out how!
There are 10 bursaries up for grabs to attend The Little Event 2018 on Wednesday 17th January at Thinktank in Birmingham.
Each bursary is worth £100 and covers annual BIG membership, registration fees and £25 towards travel expenses. Applying for one of the 10 free places is simple. Email event@big.uk.com by 6pm on Thursday 14th December with the subject line "Bursary Application Little Event" telling us in no more than 200 words, why you would like the opportunity to come to the Little Event and how you think it will benefit your personal and professional development. Successful applicants will be notified by email by 20th December.
Little Event 2018: a 1-day conference for early-career STEM communicators
Thanks to support from Thinktank Birmingham science museum, the Little Event will take place again in 2018!
Wednesday 17th January 2018, 9.30am - 4.30pm
Thinktank, Birmingham
This one-day conference is for early-career STEM communicators who are keen to suck the knowledge and experience out of those who have been at it for ages. It is also an excellent opportunity to make professional and friendly relationships with others in similar work, or to update job-hunting skills for those hoping to take a next step in their careers.
The full programme is being finalised and will be announced in early December.
The price is £45 for BIG members. Non-members can join first for the annual fee of £30.
Register (or find out more) by clicking BOOK HERE
Wednesday 22 November, 7.30 – 10.00pm, at The Book Club 100-106 Leonard Street, London EC2A 4RH.
Tickets are £6-£7.99 and available on fakenewspubquiz.eventbrite.co.uk.
See www.guerillascience.org for more information.
A new conference for anyone who is interested or involved in organising science festivals, events or activities
9 November 2017, 10.00-18.00 | National Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh | £80+VAT pp
Thrilling, rewarding and exhausting: three words all science festival and event organisers can relate to. Despite the chaotic mixture of emotions we often feel, we're all in this because we have a passion for putting on exciting and engaging activities for our audiences. Whether it be fine tuning the logistics, producing a high-quality programme or meeting inspiring people, everyone has favourite (and not so favourable) aspects of their role.
The UK science festival ecosystem is diverse and constantly evolving, but we rarely take the time to celebrate what we have achieved or to look ahead to some of the challenges and opportunities for the sector. This is where the UK Science Festivals Network (UKSFN) come in - we bring together science festivals and non-science festivals with scientific content to consider the highs, lows and future of festival organisation and management.
What?
Join us at our first ever conference to discuss best practice in diversifying audiences, programming and how to effectively evaluate events, amongst other topics. Most importantly, there will be plenty of opportunities to network and socialise with other conference attendees!
The main conference events will happen from 10.30-16.00, with a drinks reception from 16.00 onwards.
Who?
Although there will be a focus on festivals, the conference programme will be applicable and useful for anyone interested or involved in organising science events and activities in general. This conference is open to all, you do not have to be a member of the UKSFN to attend.
For tickets and more info please visit: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/uk-science-festivals-network-conference-tickets-37873145598
Find out more about the UKSFN here: http://sciencefestivals.uk/
Any questions, please direct them to: Anna Woolman, anna.woolman@britishscienceassociation.org
Brian Mackenwells from the Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics in Oxford was crowned the winner of the 2017 Best Demo Award at the BIG Event 2017.
This is the second time Brian has won the coveted award, having won it back in 2009.
The Best Demo Competition presents a lighthearted look at some of the demos you think are worth sharing; it invites you to demonstrate the maths, science, engineering and so on that really lights your fire and you just can’t help but show off to your peers. You have up to three minutes, a warm and welcoming audience and more eager volunteers than you could ever wish for.
Maybe you’ll be going home with the prestigious Best Demo Award to display on your desk, in your shed or sliding across the dashboard of your van.
There's no money to win, it's not an Oscar, it's not a Nobel Prize. But within BIG we think it is worth having because it’s worth joining in. The Competition takes place every year as part of the BIG Event and any registered delegate can join the running order. The competition is not scary, intimidating or harsh in any way – the main purpose is to enjoy what we do. It’s very simple: demos presenting STEM subject matter must be no longer than 3 minutes** (shorter, if that suits your demo), you must bring all of the equipment you need and you must sign up in advance.
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'Science Rapper', Jon Chase has been awarded the 2017 Josh Award for science communication. Jon was presented with his prizes and trophy at last week's BIG Event at the Centre for Life in Newcastle. Pictured with Jon above is Carole Keating, Creative Producer for Manchester Science Festival.
The Observatory Science Centre, Herstmonceux, Hailsham
To celebrate our 21st birthday, BIG is holding a party in our ancestral home of Herstmonceux on the evening of Saturday 2nd September.
Although BIG was established 25 years ago, what we now call the ‘BIG Event’ didn’t begin until a few years later and for many years, the BIG Event was held in Herstmonceux. So, we will return for our 21st birthday party to enjoy one another’s company, chat about the good old (or new) days and eat cake.
BIG 21st Birthday Party is Saturday evening's session. Join us for this only or come for the whole weekend to also enjoy The Observatory Science Centre and Astronomy Festival. Please see their website for the provisional programme of Astronomy Festival events.
Overnight camping is FREE (courtesy of BIG) if you book ANY of the options below. All pitches for BIG members and their families are in the same area. If camping is not your thing, there is accommodation in the nearby Herstmonceux Castle.
PRICES
Adults
Children (Prices for 4 and over / Under 4s are free)
Families
BIG members: login as a member first to be able to register for the member rate. To login as a member, use the email address you used to join BIG. If you can't remember what this is, please email admin@big.uk.com.
Non-members: you first need to join BIG costing £30 for the year and then come back and register for the BIG 21st Birthday Party at the member rate.
Got questions or having trouble booking?: email Ashley Kent on big (at) ashfayk (dot) com including details of your problem or query.