The BIG 2000 Race Against Time

The AGM saw the debut of this new show from the Shows SIG. It proved to be a very entertaining morning and as well as showing off the material to potential customers it illustrated what BIG does best. By working together and sharing ideas and enthusiasm we really can achieve great results.

The project started back in July at the BIG event when Mike Dennis of Curioxity first suggested that members of the show SIG should try to work together to produce a new show for the year 2000. Such was the support for the idea that within six weeks we had met again, this time at Techniquest, and brainstormed some ideas. That meeting produced enough material for a dozen shows as well as the format for the show.

It was decided that we would:

1. Produce a pack containing all the information needed to enable anybody to put on the show.

2. That the show would be very flexible and consist of different segments which the presenter could choose from to produce her own custom made performance

3. Apply to COPUS for a seed grant.

4. That the show would last for exactly 2000 seconds

Following that meeting a small working group was set up to develop the ideas further and we met two more times to discuss progress and monitor the development of the pack. With hindsight our committee of four was probably not large enough but it was still very useful to share ideas and get renewed enthusiasm for the project from each other.

The New Year brought the good news that our grant bid had been successful, and production began in earnest. Rounds on Flight, Series, Probability and Microscopy amongst others were written up and ideas for presentation of each round were developed. The pack now has nine segments, a cassette to time the show to exactly 2000 seconds and the printed material will be on a CD ROM.

Apart from the show itself the project has produced new ways of working and will, I hope, produce some interesting comparisons on the way different presenters use the same material. To this end the project is being evaluated by an MSc student based at Techniquest.

The BIG 2000 Show: “The Race Against Time” Pack

• Pack contains all the information needed to put on the show
• Flexible format: build a custom performance out of different segments
• Lasts exactly 2000 seconds
• Funded by COPUS seed grant
• Project has revealed new ways of working, and ongoing research will monitor show’s success

If you would like more information or to order a pack, contact James Piercy c/o INSPIRE, St Michael's Church, Coslany St, Norwich NR3 3DT, Tel 01603 612612
James@science-project.org

Newsletter Spring 2000 Contents

New exhibitions > Opening dates for UK exhibitions | New Yorkshire Centre | Young builders | Number exhibition | What's wrong with the Millennium Dome?

News > Canadian Director for Eureka | Design in education Week | The 'Race against time' show pack | Indo-UK Science Festival | From the editor | From the chair

BIG Annual Report 1999 > Chair's Report | Treasurers Report | Membership Report