The BIG Event 2002 - Final Programme

The Observatory Science Centre, Hailsham, East Sussex
Thursday 25th to Sat 27th July 2002

Welcome to the 7th BIG Event. Our annual conference attracts participants from exhibit builders and front of house staff to executive directors of a broad cross section of museums, galleries and hands on centres, plus performers and freelancers of every description.

throughout the event there will be a varied programme including:
talks: convened sessions with a panel of speakers on topics relating to interactivity in science, art, design and other fields.
workshops: get involved, make things and practice new techniques and approaches.
shows: your opportunity to see some of the best demonstrators in the country

Wednesday 24th

show: an unforgettable show : 6.00pm : geodesic dome
from 6pm there will be a welcome and interactive show for early arrivals followed by a visit to the nearby Lamb Pub.
Presenters: James Piercy & Mike Dennis

Thursday 25th

key note speech : Beryl Graham : 10.00am : geodesic dome
Biography: Beryl Graham is a writer, curator and artist with a special interest in interactive art. She has curated the major exhibition of international interactive artwork, Serious Games, for the Laing and Barbican art galleries, and has also worked with the Exploratorium, San Francisco. Her Ph.D. concerned audience relationships with interactive art in gallery settings, and she has written widely on the subject for books and periodicals including Leonardo, Convergence, and Public Art Journal.

She is currently Post-Doctoral Research fellow at the School of Art, Design and Media, University of Sunderland, and is co-editor of the CRUMB web site resource for curators of new media art

the big welcome : 11.30am : geodesic dome
the BIG committee welcome you to the BIG event - meet the people who will help to make this an unforgettable occasion and let them try to convince you why you should come to their session.
convenor: Sue Brumpton
speakers: the BIG Exec committee

show: use your maths : 1.00pm : dome A
presenters: Cath Winkler, Techniquest

soap box : 1.00pm : geodesic dome
an opportunity to tell other delegates what is important to you. sign up on arrival at Herstmonceux to give a short 10 minute presentation on any topic.
Convenor: Regan Forrest
speakers: TBC

ECSITE-UK is one year old : 1.30pm : yap dome
so what has ECSITE-UK, the science and discovery centre network, achieved in its first full year of operation? we will present highlights of 2001/02, including advocacy work (serious suits) and sciZmic, the science discovery clubs network developed jointly with the BA to celebrate Science Year (fun stuff for kids at science centres). we'd also like to hear from the BIG membership what 'you' feel ECSITE-UK can and should do at a national level to advance BIG interests.
Convenor: Colin Johnson, Chair ECSITE-UK
speakers: Rosalind Mist, Melanie Quin
biographies: Rosalind Mist, ECSITE-UK. sciZmic, the science discovery clubs network, project manager. The network began as a Science Year pilot project in November 2001 and is linking science clubs to each other and to science and discovery centres. We're now working with 9 science and discovery centres, providing events, online activities and resources. Aventis Prizes for Science Books - structured and co-ordinated the junior judges in 30 science clubs across the UK. They read and selected the winning book from the shortlist of 6. Prior to working for ECSITE-UK I was a post-doc a Mullard Space Science Laboratory, UCL, looking at Earth-Sun interactions.

Melanie Quin, Executive Director of ECSITE-UK, the Science and Discovery Centre Network

ECSITE-UK's purpose is to raise the profile of science centres, and to establish their role as a forum for dialogue between science specialists and the public and as an informal learning resource for learners of all ages.

Till her appointment to ECSITE-UK, Melanie was Science Communication Director at Techniquest. Responsibilities included a portfolio of networking activities and the direction of the MSc course in Communicating Science run jointly by Techniquest and the University of Glamorgan. Special projects included touring PanTecnicon Theatre, and directing the Techniquest/PanTecnicon Millennium Awards scheme.

design for the human condition: 2.00pm : dome A
interactivity involves seeing, hearing and doing. but what if you can't? designing for an audience with special needs deserves more than lip service and holds valuable lessons when designing for any audience
convenor: Richard Glassborow
speakers: Julia Cassim & Christian Heath
biographies: Much of Julia Cassim's career has been spent in Japan where she went on a postgraduate sculpture scholarship in the early seventies. She worked as arts columnist of The Japan Times, founded a non-profit organisation for visually impaired people working with them to increase cognitive and physical access to museum collections. She also curated and designed award-winning exhibitions for audiences with visual impairments and learning disabilities. 'Into the Light- museums and their visually impaired visitors" her book published in Japan draws on this experience.

Returning to the UK in l998, she joined the Helen Hamlyn Research Centre at the Royal College of Art the following year and runs the Small Business Programme. Funded by HEFCE's Higher Education Reach-Out to Business and the Community Fund (HEROBC) the Small Business programme works with the design community and SME's to identify and exploit innovation opportunities in response to social and demographic change. Its key focus is new product and service development in the care and disability sector.

Christian Heath is a Professor at King's College London and leads the Work, Interaction and Technology Research Group. The group specialise in video-based fields studies of social interaction in organisational settings and use those studies to inform the design and development of advanced technologies. They are currently undertaking a number of projects, funded by the research councils and the EU Disappearing Computer Programme, concerned with conduct, collaboration and new forms of interactivity, in museums, galleries and science centres. He has published numerous academic articles and seven books the most recent of which is Technology in Action (with Paul Luff) published by Cambridge University Press (2000). He is co-editor of the book series Learning and Doing also Cambridge.

popular public programmes : 2.00pm : geodesic dome
with increasing competition from other attractions, centres need to continually provide new experiences to ensure those all important repeat visits. this session will draw on examples of special events and encourage delegates to share ideas on how to produce, promote and run a broad range of events for families.
Convenor: James Piercy
speakers: Mike Dennis, Tony Hirst, Ann Nicol, Wendy Sadler & Scott Keir
biographies: Mike Dennis set up and coordinates The Oxfordshire Family Science Programme which is a partnership of organisations which contribute to a triannual programme of family science events in Oxfordshire. This has now been going for nearly three years. There have been over 100 events attended by more than 50,000 people.
The idea was promote all the activities together, try and widen our audience and encourage new organisations to run events.
Tony Hirst is a lecturer in the dept of telematics at the open university. He is involved in the development of robofesta uk a nationwide programme of events aimed at encouraging interest in robotics. Robo soccer is just one part of this and leagues are forming around the country.

Ann Nicol's background is in museums and visitor attractions. Did Zoology BSc at Aberdeen and Museums Studies MSc in Leicester. Worked in Museums in Leicester, Glasgow (Hunterian), Hampshire (set up SEARCH - hands-on centre for history and natural history). Then worked as Education Manager in large public aquarium in Ellesmere Port (Blue Planet, Cheshire). Currently working on HLF Access project in two of the University Museums in Oxford - the University Museum of Natural History and the Pitt Rivers Museum.

Wendy Sadler: Until recently Wendy was Public Programmes Manager at Techniquest Cardiff. She was responsible for "The Hub" a small regularly changing exhibition space. She also produced shows and other events to tie in with the theme of the exhibition.

Scott Keir has worked as the Copus Officer since May 2001. He has day-to-day responsibility for the Copus grant scheme, one of the longest-established grant schemes for science communication activities, which was revised last year to incorporate new funding priorities such as dialogue and collaboration. Before joining Copus, Scott helped run the Maths Year 2000 Scotland initiative, which involved creating almost everything from a website and newsletter to a series of workshops and hands-on events for families.

science year : 3.30pm : yap dome
meet the Science Year Team
convenor: Sophie Duncan

show: Robofesta : 4.30pm : geodesic dome
Robot Football
presenters: Tony Hirst

dinner & entertainment : 6.00pm : castle
buffet dinner in the refectory at Herstmonceux castle followed by entertainments in the Elizabethan Room and bar. see how a magician and puppeteer interact with an audience up close and personal.
magician : Toby Judge: If you ever read descriptions of magicians and their acts (not a hobby I'd particularly recommend) you always get the words ultimate, baffling, stunning, unbelievable, impossible, charming, funny, amazing, crowdpulling, irresistible, spectacular... So, here you go. My act. I am the ultimate, baffling, stunning, unbelievable....

Actually, having been a professional performer for a long time now, I think that magic can touch you and play with your senses in a unique way. You might think so too. So I'll see you at the Big Event. Bring your imagination, we'll have some fun. I promise.

Indigo Moon Puppet Theatre is a London-based theatre company inspired by European, Indian and Indonesian traditions. Indigo Moon performs at all manner of venues and uses lifelike movement and enchanting music to create enjoyable contemporary shows and workshops, usually involving puppetry. Anna Ingleby began trading as Indigo Moon Theatre in 1999 based on freelance expertise gained since 1992. Indigo Moon has delighted audiences in many different situations at local, national and international venues.

Friday 26th

learning to learn or just learning to play : 10.00am : yap dome
the formal curriculum in UK schools is changing to place greater emphasise on developing the ways in which students learn - creativity, critical thinking, learning to learn, handling knowledge, etc. how can interactive centres, through exhibits and programmes, develop these skills in visitors? or are our visitors "just learning to play"?
convenor: Paul McCrory
speakers: Paul McCrory, Mark McKergow PhD MBA, Ian Russell, Catherine Aldridge
biographies: Dr Mark McKergow is a consultant and trainer specialising in helping people and organisations to learn. He is fascinated by the many ways in which people can help or hinder their learning, and trains trainers, teachers, coaches and presenters around the world. Given his background and doctorate in physics, Mark is still a scientist at heart. His career has taken him through nuclear power stations and corporate management into consultancy. A full-time consultant since 1992, Mark McKergow has a wealth of experience in the application of accelerated learning methods in business. He also advises school institutions including the University of the First Age. He has presented in Europe, the USA, the former Soviet Union and South Africa. Recent clients include British Nuclear Fuels and Shell.
Mark is a member of the Association for Management Education and Development, the Association of MBAs, the Society for Effective Affective Learning and the International Alliance for Learning. He is coauthor (with Paul Z Jackson) of The Solutions Focus: The SIMPLE Way to Positive Change, published by Nicholas Brealey Publishing in 2002. He is also a keen jazz clarinettist and an expert on the use of music in learning.

Ian Russell is still thinking about what to be when he grows up. He is unsure if he is a consultant, an interactive exhibition designer, a science communicator or a showman. With over fifteen years of non-stop activity in interactive exhibition development, plus a long string of influential consultancy projects, he is well known in the "hands-on-exhibition-community".
The variety of Ian Russell's work can be illustrated by two particularly hectic months from his diary at the end of 2001. On November 7th he gave a demonstration of informal science communication at the "Two Cultures" conference in Bradford, having first arranged for a busload of lively eight-year-olds to sit in front of the delegates! On November 12th he presented his Blown-up Biology lecture demonstration of live microscopic organisms at the Urania centre in Berlin, Germany. From November 15th to 18th he visited four venues all over Ireland with his Exploding Custard science "performance". He fitted in another Exploding Custard show at the Science Museum in London on November 22nd for Chemistry Week. Throughout this month he was also project-managing the complex, exceptionally-fast-track fabrication of eleven astronomy exhibits for Ciutat de les Arts I les Ciencies, Valencia, Spain, most of which were his own totally new concepts. On December 5th a huge articulated juggernaut was completely filled with packing cases and dispatched to Spain. The following week Ian spent, screwdriver in hand, installing the exhibits in Valencia.
Although his proudest achievement is an ability to think like a ten-year-old, Ian delights in chewing over abstract principles of informal learning. He is convinced that getting the "philosophy" right is critical to success or failure, at the most practical nuts-and-bolts level.
Catherine Aldridge is at-Bristol's Education and Programmes manager. She studied Chemistry at university before going on to work for Bass where she completed a study of how IT skills are learnt and applied. Catherine has also worked for a public sector consultancy where, amongst other things, she co-ordinated and evaluated education and training projects supported by the European Social Fund. Now working in a science centre, her team is working to create innovative learning experiences that use exhibitions, films, workshops, media and ICT. A key part of developing these experiences is researching what and how learning occurs.
Paul McCrory is a freelance science and maths communication consultant. He is passionate about communicating the excitement and wonder he feels about science, technology and maths to people of all ages and backgrounds. His degree is in physics and maths, and he caught the 'science centre bug' whilst studying for an MSc in Communicating science at Techniquest. Paul has also worked for several science outreach projects and as Demonstration Leader at W5 in Belfast.
Recently he has started a consultancy, think differently, which specialises in engaging people in science, technology and maths and in promoting new ways of playing, thinking and learning. This work has involved developing and presenting interactive shows and training courses, and developing resources for informal education.
He is particularly interested in ways in which formal and informal education can be brought closer together, and in developing frameworks for the range of outcomes possible in informal education. Currently he is researching the topic of wonder in science education at Queens University of Belfast.

making exchange : 10.00am : geodesic dome
ideas for making activities, your chance to make several simple projects suitable for children, including fossils and a Zoetrope.
Convenor: Sue Brumpton
facilitators: Cath Winkler and Sue Brumpton
biographies: Sue Brumpton has a background in Industrial Design, which has been put to good use as centre manager of the Making Place to develop hundreds of making activities that demonstrate scientific principles.

show: flight : 10.00am : dome A
presenter: Natalie Ford, Guilford Discovery

telling tales with toys : 11.30am : geodesic dome
see how story telling can be linked to making activities, how a workshop can be organised and how to make toys from recycled materials that demonstrate simple mechanisms.
facilitator: Manju Gregory
biographies: Manju formed Kabutar Theatre company in 1984 and has been running workshops alongside her theatre production work ever since. she has mainly specialised in primary school work, but is also skilled in storytelling, and is an author and illustrator. She has either appeared on or made work for TV on numerous occasions, most recently for the Storymakers (CBeebies) and has worked in many of the most prestigious museums. in collaboration with Banbury Museum in Oxfordshire she created a major travelling exhibition on dynamic toys.

Show: the microwave oven show: 11.30am : dome A
presenters: Elin Roberts, Techniquest

soap box : 1.00pm : dome A
an opportunity to tell other delegates what is important to you. Sign up on arrival at Herstmonceux to give a short 10 minute presentation.
Convenor: James Piercy
speakers: TBC

show: the famous bubble show : 1.00pm : geodesic dome
presenters: Neil Beaton, Satrosphere

what can visitors tell us about interactivity? : 1.30pm : yap dome
this session has been organised in collaboration with the visitor studies group, and will look at how finding out more about our visitors can help lead to the design and development of better interactives. It will include case studies from a range of fields, plus activities to put the ideas into practice.
Convenor: Regan Forrest
speakers: Morna Hinton & Andrew McIntyre
biographies: Morna Hinton is Head of Evaluation and Visitor Research in the Learning and Visitor Services Division at the V&A. She was also responsible for managing the British Galleries programme of audience research and led the development of guidelines for gallery text in the project.

Andrew McIntyre: Andrew was born into a socialist, football mad family in Middlesborough. This has left him with a strong desire to live somewhere else, a season-ticket at the Riverside Stadium and a bit of a leaning towards the underdog.

In fact, he has a fatal attraction to difficult causes, trying to ban the bomb as CND's National Youth Organiser, then urging world peace at the United Nations Association. But it was his doomed attempt to popularise the policies of Camden Council that persuaded him to settle for the soft option of developing audiences for arts and museums.

Visitor Services roles at the National Museum of Labour History and Manchester Art Gallery were followed by 8 years as Head of Research at the regional audience development agency. Three years ago, Andrew became a founder member of Morris Hargreaves McIntyre, a consultancy specialising in helping museums and galleries better understand their audiences. MHM's clients include Resource, Arts Council of England, National Galleries of Scotland, National Museums & Galleries of Wales, MAGNA, Ironbridge, New Art Gallery Walsall and 60 other museums and galleries.

Andrew lives in Manchester with Helen, a primary school music teacher, and two small sons who don't yet support Manchester United.

going it alone : 2.00pm : geodesic dome
for those who enjoy presenting shows and workshops as part of their everyday work and who might be considering setting up on their own. a taste of what it's like to work for yourself. the pleasures and pitfalls explained by those who have taken this exciting and frightening step for themselves
convenor: Mike Dennis
speakers: Shaaron Leverment & Ben Brown
biographies: Shaaron Leverment & Ben Brown set up Explorer Dome in 1988. They now tour with several shows and have recently started employing more presenters. They will give an insight to the expansion of their business. How to get repeat bookings, writing new shows and keeping it fresh.

Show: Kids in Space : 2.00pm : geodesic dome
presenters: Matt Fox & Jo Northway

show: Much Ado About Nothing : 4.30pm : dome A
presenters: Richard Ellam

best demo competition : 5.00pm : geodesic dome
your chance to compete for the honour of best demonstration - five minutes to impress the judges with your most original, stylish demo. prizes courtesy of Science Year, with the best ideas to be included in their "Little book of Experiments". sign up on arrival.
Convenor: Jo Carter

bug tasting : 6.30pm : geodesic dome
try a bug or two wrapped in chocolate courtesy of the Big Bug Show as an appetiser to this evenings meal.
Convenor: Lee Gibbs

evening: wok 'n' roll : 7.00pm : geodesic dome
the noodle bar and music back by popular demand, followed by telescope tours or a 'jam' session - bring your instruments.

Saturday 27th

new frontiers in interactivity: 10.00am : dome a
new frontiers for interactives, shopping centres, schools, churches, car parks...who knows where! can this be done? has it been done? should it be done? all of these questions and more will be discussed. who knows, it may be the start of a new voyage of discovery for interactivity 'out there'
convenor:
speakers: Roger Coleman & Ray Harris or Dave Wilson
biographies:

Ray Harris
Ray Harris and Steve Blyth set up HarrisBlyth in May 1992. HarrisBlyth was main interactive contractor at Thinktank and responsible for the design and build of 89 exhibits. HarrisBlyth has recently completed a number of projects for other museums and visitor centres including Thinktank, Urbis, Imperial War Museum and Chatham Historical Dockyard.

Dave Wilson
Dave's remit at HarrisBlyth is to head the design aspect. He deals with the concept and design of interactives and ensures that they are following the brief and delivering the correct messages. He also monitors durability, maintenance access, safety and risk assessments. Dave was previously Head of Design/Project Co-ordinator at Explore At-Bristol, a £97 million Millennium funded hands-on science centre.

Show: exploradome : 10.00am : geodesic dome
presenters: Shaaron Leverment & Ben Brown

science year : 10.00am : yap dome
what has happened during science year? plus some of the opportunities still to take part and lessons learned so far
convenor: Sophie Duncan

explainers forum : 11.30am : geodesic dome
a chance for explainers from different organisations to compare experiences. The session will look available training and at setting up local support groups
convenor: Jo Carter

festivals, an insiders guide: 11.30am : yap dome
why take part in festivals? hear the experience of regular participants in a variety of national and community events and find out from some organisers what they want from you
convenor: Lee Gibbs
speakers: Sue Brumpton
biographies: Sue has been a facilitator and teacher for 10 years, during which time she has run making activities at a wide variety of festivals, and organised a few events of her own.

The big draw, drawing with wire : 1.00pm : geodesic dome
take part in a final fun hands-on activity and hear from the campaign for drawing about how to run events in this years big draw. Drawing Power, now in its third year, continues with the simple but ambitious aim to get everyone drawing! the Guild of St. George, a small charity founded by John Ruskin in 1871, initiated this campaign to celebrate its founder's centenary. Ruskin saw drawing as the foundation for visual thought. his writings were designed not to teach people how to draw, but how to see. The Campaign shows how drawing can be valued more highly in education and everyday life.

Convenor: Sue Brumpton
speaker: Julian Spalding
Facilitator: Mary Ellen Archer
biographies:

Mary Ellen is a visual artist working with line and found materials, who also runs occasional workshops for children. She also advises on disability issues and is a freelance fundraiser.

Julian Spalding was Director of City Galleries and Museums in Sheffield, Manchester and then Glasgow through the eighties and nineties, and was a great admirer of the innovative interactive work at the Exploratorium in San Francisco and the Children's Museum in Boston, and sought new ways to re-integrate these developments with museum collections. After his post as Director was abolished in Glasgow, he worked in Denmark and has recently published a book ( The Poetic Museum, Prestel) describing his frustrations with his chosen profession and his vision for the future of museums world-wide.

Wearing his hat as Master of the Guild of St George - a small educational charity set up by John Ruskin - he initiated The Campaign for Drawing, a nationwide programme to raise awareness of the value of drawing in many walks of life and throughout education (not just in the art room). Patrons include Sir Roger Penrose alongside Quentin Blake and Sir Richard MacCormac. The campaign, directed by Sue Grayson Ford, has attracted major funding and institutional partners, including NESTA and the QCA, and is now in its third year. It has helped to initiate hundreds of events involving hundreds of thousands of people throughout the country. It also has initiated a nation wide research programme into the uses of drawing at all key stages of education, which could fundamentally change the way drawing is used and taught in schools. Julian Spalding will be encouraging members to participate in the forthcoming two year programme building up to its climax in 2004/5. Drawing still has tremendous potential as the simplest and perhaps oldest interactive!