BIG e-news: Issue 1 - July 2007

In our efforts to save the planet as well as our hard-earned cash, we are pleased to bring you the first e-bulletin for BIG members, written by BIG members, which will be zapped to your desks every two months or so. We welcome comments and articles, long or short, to include in future bulletins.

This month we kick off with a new series of 'How to Argue with...', where Famelab™ winner Mark Lewney gives us his witty, but sceptical insight into a range of scientific (and not so scientific) topics in no more than 300 words! This month we tackle Climate Sceptics - who would you like Mark to argue with in 300 words in the next edition?

Remember, BIG exists to serve the needs of its individual members and we need to know what our members want. There will be a timetabled "membership surgery" at the BIG Event where you can make your views known, or feel free to contact any of the Executive team before then.

News from BIG

BIG Event

As the weather hots up, so does conference activity for the BIG event with registration forms tumbling out of the photocopier and payments flooding in. If you get a last-minute urge to join us at Magna later this month, it's not too late to book your place.

Time for a career change?

Get your opportunities seen by over 600 professionals in the science communications industry by adding your job vacancies online at our brand new jobs page on the BIG web site. This is a free service for BIG members.

What's new pussycat?

Are you happy to welcome a new member of the team or excited to be starting a new challenge yourself? Send through the details and we'll let the rest of the BIG membership know.

New Administrator

BIG is pleased to welcome its new administrator, Sarah Vining, who will be a blast from the past for some of you. Sarah is a freelance marketing consultant and has bags of experience across the science centre/museums field. She is currently sinking her teeth into ironing out some of the membership administration processes and introducing an online payment scheme so you have the option of renewing your membership via the BIG website. This should make it much easier for our overseas members and those of you who find cheques difficult. We've also revised the way our membership runs to become a 12-month 'rolling' membership rather than a fixed point renewal, meaning that if for example you join in March, your membership will run for a year from that date.

Is there anybody out there?

Do you really need some work-related advice but don't know who to ask and don't want to post your question on BIG Chat for fear of retribution? Send your enquiry in confidence to admin@big.uk.com and the BIG Administrator will call upon the membership for the answer to your questions.

How to argue with … climate sceptics (in 300 words)

Mark Lewney, Freelance Science Presenter

We are playing Russian Roulette, with no idea how many chambers are loaded. The question is: do you feel lucky, punk?

Carbon dioxide molecules vibrate. One important vibration is driven by the infra-red wavelengths given off by warm objects. And so, if more CO2 molecules are around, the escape of infra-red wavelengths is delayed, causing a warming effect (Fourier, 1827).

Digging up and burning fossil fuel stores releases billions of tonnes of CO2 every year. The atmospheric concentration of CO2 has risen over 30% in mere decades, from 280 parts per million in 1900 to over 380 ppm today. The annual increase averages at over 2ppm per year.

Volcanic emissions constitute <1% of human emissions. The world’s forests and oceans are roughly in equilibrium, releasing and absorbing around the same quantities of CO2 each year.

Imagine a large garden water feature with a recycling pump designed to keep a constant water level – just as the level will rise if water from, say, a nearby well is added, so the atmospheric CO2 concentration will increase due to humans burning fossil fuels.

We don’t know precisely how much warmer every extra part per million will make it, but it will get warmer, allowing the air to hold more water vapour. Water molecules also have infra-red wavelength-absorbing motions, causing yet more warming (this is called "positive feedback"). In addition to rising temperatures, sea levels rise not only from land ice melting into the sea, but from thermal expansion of the sea itself.

No climatologist believes that continuing the current rise in CO2 concentration into the next century will be anything but incredibly dangerous, both physically and economically. Yes, the models of exactly how dangerous it is are uncertain, but blindly hoping for the best is how gambling wrecks so many lives.

So you want to be a star?

James Piercy, Director, Inspire Science Discovery Centre

... a Science & Drama project by Inspire Discovery Centre & The Maddermarket Theatre

Inspire Discovery Centre has just completed a science drama project supported by the PPARC science centre grant scheme. The aim was to encourage teenagers, without a previous interest in space science, to research, produce and perform short pieces of drama around the topic. The project began with discussion between Inspire and the Maddermarket Theatre drama tutors & assistants. The theatre staff came to Inspire for a Planetarium show & discussion. For some of them this was a totally new area of knowledge.

Two groups of students were drawn from the existing youth drama group at the Theatre aged 11-13 and 14-16. Both groups experienced the Planetarium show at the Theatre, introducing them to the Solar System & the wider Universe. Each group then brainstormed the subject, writing down phrases, facts & ideas. For some of the groups, things that came up in this initial session were the basis of their later work. Inspire provided research materials for the students and tutors to use .One group spent a whole session discussing what they had learnt initially and researched themselves. This led to a piece (Face of Heaven) that began with young people in discussion, and moved on to historical characters and the unexplored role of women astronomers. This is a good example of how letting the students find their way will lead to unexpected areas. In this project all of the groups leaned towards dialogue based drama, though the subject could easily lend itself to movement and dance based interpretation. At the end of term a programme of 4 pieces was presented on stage at the Theatre.

• The All-Planet Tour - A coach trip across the Solar System (12-13yrs)
• Myths of the Constellations -Mythology & a visual display of a constellation (12-13yrs)
• The Interplanetary Revue Jokes - sketches & dance routines about the solar System (14-17yrs)
• Face of Heaven - A look at prejudice, injustice & triumphs in the history of astronomy (14-17yrs)

The "All-planet tour" and "The interplanetary revue" were repeated during the BA festival of science.

Following the first set of performances the tutors met up again with Inspire staff to review progress and select the next group. The tutors felt that the students would find it easier to develop their ideas if presented with some themes or topics to work around rather than being given a completely blank slate. Inspire worked up some suggested ideas based partly on topics raised by the first groups.

The next group were drawn from a local high school with an active drama department which has worked with Inspire on other projects. The staff were keen to be involved and it was agreed that an intensive week long session would work better than a number of weekly meetings. The sessions took place in school time with pupils taken off normal lessons for a week and culminating in two performances to family and friends.

Starry Night Night at school camp – pupils lie in their sleeping bags looking up at the stars, and then find themselves on each planet in turn. Or maybe it was a dream?

Past Moments An ambitious time travel through different moments in the development of astronomy. A submarine crew use their modern knowledge to further understanding.

Feedback

• Feedback from the participants was overwhelmingly positive. Despite some initial reservations from a few students in the first term all those that took part enjoyed the experience and valued it.
• The project focused on youngsters for whom science, and astronomy in particular were not of particular interest. So it is encouraging that they took to the topics with some enthusiasm.
• Questionnaires returned by participants showed 80% reporting an increase in interest in astronomy and 65% would consider visiting an observatory.
• The only negative feedback involved a wish for more time. This is always an issue with such projects where performances continue to develop.
• The most popular part for the students was the opportunity to show off what they had done during the performances.
• One student said
  "I enjoyed acting…but also having a meaning for it, to get others to learn, was great…"
• Interestingly some of the students have brought elements of their work on this project into subsequent pieces in their drama group.

Overall the project was a challenging and rewarding experience for all of us.

A pack with more information about how the project was run, ideas for topic and exercises to try is available as a free download from the Inspire web site www.inspirediscoverycentre.com/teachers.html

Are You Experienced? A virtual trip to the Experience Music Project, Seattle

Katie Myerscough

Seattle. Nestled at the very top of the American Western seaboard; the last great US city before you reach Canada. As geographically isolated as it maybe Seattle manages to be part of the greater cultural 'whole' – this place has given us Starbucks, Frasier and Bill Gates (in no particular order of importance!) - whilst retaining its hippy-individualism that West Coast Americans are so proud of. This is clearly evident in Seattle's Experience Music Project (EMP). Note, it's an Experience, not a museum but a blood-pumping, life-changing Experience. Aptly named as this place Rocks!

Not so Purple Haze

Let me set the scene: the building designed by Frank O Gehry is at the same moment a masterpiece and a monstrosity which divides the opinion of everyone who views it, in a way that (I believe) only great buildings can. Apparently Seattlites have slowly grown to love it, and it's easy to see why. Holding its own it stands next to Seattle's other famous landmark, the Space Needle. Taking inspiration from smashed Stratocasters (thus paying homage to every destructive Rock God...Ever!) the building pierces your mind like a great guitar rift. A glistening mix-mash of metallic blues, vivid reds and shiny golds, the building seems to sprout from the ground and explode in glorious Technicolor. Good God how can anything exist in there? Never mind a multi-million dollar Musical extravaganza.

Come as you are

After some searching we finally found the entrance, from then on in our senses were well and truly assaulted. It felt like we had stepped into an MTV video. Bright neon lights, loud music and blaring TVs - the kind of place grandparents fear to tread. The ultra-friendly staff took rather a lot of money from us (about twelve pounds, expensive but most US museums except for the free Nationals in DC are exorbitant due to little national funding), and we were guided upstairs. Looking at the map I was initially disappointed, there didn't seem to be many galleries but I later found that in this handful there was treasure to be mined. We were about to hit the interactives jackpot!

Voodoo Chile

I have to admit at first we bypassed the interactive 'Sound Lab' it being the early afternoon rush – the shrieks, the laughter, the whites of their eyes – the terror of a room full of excitable children is not something I can deal with after three years at MSIM. As any museum professional knows the time for (quietly) getting in touch with your inner child is early morning or late afternoon; being weary travelers (read: lazy) the morning was out, so we began in the more adult-orientated galleries. Therein lies the beauty of the place, galleries were close together, often intermixing, which means that Mum and Dad can take a trip down musical memory lane whilst Junior plays with the interactive screens, listens to tunes, or (I suppose) runs off.

The Northwest Passage gallery was a homage to stars, acts and little known garage bands (Nirvana anyone?) that have hailed from Seattle. Again in a wonderful 'connection' between the galleries here you could listen to The Kingsmen's cut of the garage classic 'Louie, Louie' later in the Sound Lab you could actually play it...Dude!

The Hendrix Gallery was a testament to the guy's (sorry God's) creative genius with amazing footage from Monterey and Woodstock. It also offered a glimpse into his personal, and rather lonely, life; letters and drawings sent back home to Seattle brought a tear to this old rocker's eye.

After getting busted for taking a photo of a rather bizarre interactive where instruments stacked from floor to ceiling played themselves I hot-footed it to the Costume Gallery. Here I learnt that Biggie was in no way Smalls, Madonna's pointy bra could have your eye out, and I am similar in stature to Stevie Nicks. After which the time had come, my friends, to ROCK!

Foxy lady? ... Nevermind

Part of EMP's mission statement is to "both entertain and engage visitors in the creative process", the interactive Sound Lab certainly attains this goal. Built in a rough hexagon shape its centre is taken up by an expansive drum table called jam-o-drum; families and strangers bonded over the infectious beats they produced with the touch of a hand. Around this was the most amazing collection of instruments – Fenders, Yamahas, Stratocasters, Telocasters – it sounds like a litany to a Rock God, and indeed it is, but for one day only, baby, that Rock God was gonna be me. It was a wonderful opportunity to try these instruments (that had been skillfully secured). Even more impressive was the useful instructions on the video screen in front of me, wow they actually worked and I could understand them. Lights along the necks of some of the guitars showed me where to put my fingers. I selected a level, a song, even an instructor to guide me through (or I could free-style if I wanted). Whilst on my guitar I learnt a guitar 'hot lick' from Eddie Van Halen!

Moving away from the central desk there was other things to try: a DJ Hallway to mix and scratch records, other percussion, and a rather strange disco dancing area where a group of Japanese business men were getting down with their bad-selves. I am to understand that this area is sometimes used for demonstrations and talks. I wonder if Presenters do this, because we hardly saw any staff in the area, in a way the interactive instructions were so good perhaps they weren't really needed. Maybe the thinking is who needs Presenters when you've got Van Halen. In terms of user-flow, such as encouraging sharing, the video (and voice) instructions did that too; the programs seemed to last around ten minutes after which they would reset, so (from what I saw) people were encouraged to leave it and try something new. Maybe on busier days there may have been the occasional bust-up but people were encouraged to behave in a friendly fun manner.

On the upper level there was some of the twelve acoustically isolated rooms where you could go in individually or in small groups and have a jam session or continue with 'instruction'. There was a producers desk to try (I messed around with Annie Lennox's vocals!), and a singing studio (which given the success of Pop Idol et al is a sure winner with visitors). These separate rooms were great as they offered a lot more privacy for the musically challenged (such as myself!).

Outside the Sound Lab is another interactive, and I may add money spinner. Groups of people can go "On Stage" and play instruments in a mock up of a real life stadium rock show, complete with a large arena, smoke, hot lights and screaming fans (on a soundtrack!). The rest of the visitors wait outside and watch the 'video'. I saw lots of children (and adults) having a really fun time playing out their musical ambitions. And of course they can watch their video and then purchase the DVD for around 10 pounds, or buy a still photo, which probably explains the no photography rule! It was a real example of how interactives can pay for themselves, and still be linked with the rest of the Experience. Encouraged I signed up, but as I was on my own the thought of running back-and-forth from drums to bass to guitar whilst gyrating to Britney's "I love Rock N Roll" was too much to bare, so I bottled it!

Now that's what I call Music!

The day was drawing near when I found myself in one of the jammin rooms. "Right" I thought, "this one's for you, Notorious BIG (British Interactive Group)" Fender in hand I launched into the best wah wah-ing since Hendrix. I produced something approaching a rock super classic. Alas! No-one heard it (damn these sound proof rooms) and oops I forgot to press the record button. It was The Best Rock Song in the World Ever...well a girl can dream.

Museum web site: www.emplive.org
My travel blog: www.spaces.msn.com/notsolonelyplanet

And finally…

The BIG executive committee has worked hard this year to get benefits for its members. We thank you for your support and hope you will continue it by renewing your subscription when, for most of you, it expires in July.

With best wishes from the BIG Executive...
Helen Lloyd – Acting Chair
Rachel Mason – Treasurer
Jenny Dockett (Scotland)
Gerd Hombrecher (Europe)
Elizabeth Jeavans (London and South East Regional Convenor)
David Price (North West England)
Debbie Syrop (South West and South Wales)
Jenny Search (North East England)

Also…
Sarah Vining – BIG administrator
Savita Custead – BIG Event Coordinator