British Interactive Group (BIG) Latest news

Latest conference programme announced!

Thu, 17 May 2012 14:00:44 GMT

The BIG Event is a prestigious conference that brings together 150+ STEM engagement and associated professionals from across the UK to share skills and experiences, develop professional links and keep up-to-date with the STEM engagement field.

Three whole days of workshops, shows and discussion groups covering topics such as:

- Making the most of emotions in science communication
- Getting into teachers’ heads, universities’ heads and even your own head
- Looking after your intellectual property
- Explorations in training staff
- How to get money
- How to deal with not getting money
- Marketing on a shoestring
- Workshops on competitions, maths, dialogue, physics, Olympics, exhibits …

At just £100 a day (which includes annual membership and a nice lunch) what are you waiting for?

www.big.uk.com/bigevent

BIG Event 2012 - National Railway Museum, York 25 - 27 July

Bursaries for BIG Event 2012!

Mon, 26 Mar 2012 17:29:18 GMT

Announcing bursaries to attend this year's BIG Event 2012 in York. View the application criteria and download an application form here: www.big.uk.com/bigevent

Putting the M into STEM

Wed, 29 Feb 2012 00:09:24 GMT

Are you looking to improve and develop skills for maths outreach? Do you currently do public engagement in maths and want to improve, or are you looking to try and incorporate the 'M in STEM' into your work? BIG’s forthcoming skills day on Maths Communication will be held on 8th May in Manchester. www.big.uk.com/maths

Whet your appetite with this year's BIG Event programme...

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 23:50:37 GMT

While you’re waiting for this year's BIG Event conference programme to unfurl, here’s something to whet your appetite:
Wednesdays get bigger - This year for the first time the BIG Event will run for a full three days, starting with a day dedicated to providing delegates with resources to expand their portfolio of activities including:
Getting sponsorship for the very first time: top 10 tips to help you understand how to approach companies to raise between £500 and £5,000 for a local project.
Marketing on a shoestring: hints and tips on how to market your event, centre or service at very low (or no) cost.
Smarter UK training: a half-day workshop that GIVES you all the resources and training to run a new facilitated discussion session for schools. Smarter UK comes to you fully developed with teachers’ resources for your organisation to incorporate into its schools offer. Smarter UK is devised by Graphic Science and funded by the Wellcome Trust.

People Power... the Science of Engaging Audiences

Tue, 14 Feb 2012 00:37:42 GMT

As part of BIG's role in promoting excellence in science communication we are pleased to announce our upcoming skills day:

People Power... the Science of Engaging Audiences.

Our one-day course will concentrate on explaining, exploring and workshopping, audience interaction and volunteer engagement techniques. This course enables even the most experienced of presenters to enhance their science demonstrations by making the most out of their audience contributions.

The day is split into a series of practical and theoretical challenges, which help participants practice techniques whilst allowing them to explore their application to their own specific presentations and workshops.

Date: Monday 2nd April
Venue: At-Bristol Science Centre, Bristol
Cost: £40 for BIG Members (includes refreshments and lunch)

Non-members will need to join BIG first to participate, at a cost of £30 for annual membership.

Delegate registration is now OPEN!

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 14:12:27 GMT

Prices for this year's BIG Event are as frozen as the roads! Conference fees are the same as 2011 and the "early bird" rate returns! Register and pay before 31 March to get a full £50 off! And if that's not exciting enough, this year the conference will be held over THREE FULL DAYS!

Session proposals needed for BIG 2012

Mon, 16 Jan 2012 18:08:39 GMT

Call for session proposals is now open! If you have an idea for a conference session, please click on www.big.uk.com/bigevent and get your form in before 3rd Feb!

BIG Event 2012 is heading to the National Railway Museum in York

Wed, 07 Dec 2011 19:59:04 GMT

The 2012 BIG Event is heading North to the fabulous National Railway Museum in York! Join STEM colleagues from across the sector on 25-27 July 2012. A call for session proposals will be announced in the New Year so get planning and start making links with other organisations to make this a truly skills-sharing experience.

Advanced Audience Skills - Creating Astonishment

Fri, 30 Sep 2011 15:35:55 GMT

Our upcoming skills day, to be held in London on 17th October is a one-day course focusing on stagecraft skills specifically for those who regularly present science demonstrations to the public. Spaces are limited to 15 participants - so book early! £45 for BIG Members.
www.big.uk.com/events

Little Event returns!

Fri, 05 Aug 2011 18:57:39 GMT

Not everything BIG does is BIG. Sometimes the little things matter too, and we announce the return of The Little Event to Thinktank in Birmingham on Monday 5th September. And we have 10 bursaries available to cover your costs! Aimed at those relatively new to STEM communication, it’s a lot like the BIG Event, but a bit smaller, and all crammed into one busy day. There will be 4 sessions, each focusing on developing a different skill, delivered by experienced science communicators following our usual hands-on approach.

www.big.uk.com/little

What's going on in his head?

Sat, 25 Jun 2011 23:58:53 GMT

"What's going on in his head?" is an exciting addition to the BIG Event programme. At the end of January, James Piercy was involved in a car accident. Find out where he is on the road to recovery and what he's learned along the way. With scary pictures, some swearing and even a few laughs the show is James' thanks to the BIG community for its support and a way of explaining any unusual behaviour you might witness!

Join our Executive Committee!

Thu, 09 Jun 2011 18:41:20 GMT

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.

VSG Summer Seminar at BIG Event!

Wed, 25 May 2011 13:54:34 GMT

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

Keynote speaker announced!

Wed, 20 Apr 2011 20:34:51 GMT

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

Bursary Announcement - BIG Event 2011

Thu, 07 Apr 2011 18:54:42 GMT

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.

"Voice Coaching" and "Improvisation Skills" announced for Event!

Thu, 24 Mar 2011 20:42:27 GMT

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

Event Coordinator required!

Tue, 08 Mar 2011 13:49:36 GMT

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.

Save £50!

Wed, 02 Mar 2011 20:42:01 GMT

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

Event Registration LIVE!

Wed, 09 Feb 2011 21:14:56 GMT

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.

@bristol confirm free entry to members

Fri, 19 Nov 2010 13:32:12 GMT

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!