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  • 20 Jun 2016 12:52 PM | Anonymous

    Members of BIG are invited to stand for a position on the 2016/17 Executive Committee.

    ANY member can apply for ANY position on the Committee and no prior experience of Committee or Board work is required. It's always helpful to have a cross-representation of the entire membership on the Committee so we actively encourage applications from freelancers, science festivals, science centres, academic institutions, zoos, museums, funding and research bodies etc.

    We are looking to fill all roles but in particular we are looking for a new Chair and a General (Ordinary) Committee member.

    We are a friendly bunch, we meet about 4 times a year somewhere central to all committee members (for which your expenses will be covered) and you'll be fully supported in your role by BIG's Administrator. You will receive a cost-only place at the BIG Event 2017. All positions will be subject to an online vote and the results will be revealed at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Belfast on July 21st (you do not need to be present).

    To find out more about the positions, email for an informal and confidential chat. Nominations are to be received by 10am on Monday 4th July. Please contact me for a nomination form: admin@big.uk.com

  • 01 Jun 2016 12:56 PM | Anonymous

    Mathematician  Katie Steckles has won the 2016 Josh Award. She plans to turn the Museum of Science and  Industry into a giant hand-made, crowd-  sourced image during this year’s Manchester  Science Festival.

     Katie's winning application suggested festival  visitors help colour thousands of individual  ‘pixels’ that will make up a picture in  one of  the museum’s windows representing  how  digital devices such as computers, tablets,  and  phones display images.

     The project will also look at the mathematics  behind how devices store images as a series of  numbers that create the different colours on  screen. There’ll be a close-up look at the pixels in your own phone’s screen and a photo booth that transforms you into an Excel spreadsheet of colour values.

    The Josh Award is the UK’s national award in science communication, established to recognise and support up-and-coming talent in science communication. The award provides the opportunity to become the science communicator in residence at the Manchester Science Festival 2016, in partnership with the University of Salford, Manchester developing and delivering a new project or event while showcasing best practice in the field of science communication. The winner receives support to nurture their development in the field and their involvement in the Manchester Science Festival from both the Festival team, the University of Salford’s Science Communication cluster, and the BIG STEM Communicators Network.

    Katie said of winning the award, I'm delighted to have received this award, and I'm very much looking forward to the project in October. I've worked on events with Manchester Science Festival many times in the past, and am extremely proud to be Science Communicator in Residence with such a great organisation.’

    Antonio Benitez, Director of Manchester Science Festival, said, ’We are delighted that Katie will be the science communicator in residence at the Manchester Science Festival 2016.  Katie is a very inspiring science communicator and a great ambassador for Manchester Science Festival. The Festival team is looking forward working with Katie to develop and deliver this exciting new project showcasing best practise in the field of science communication for this year’s festival’

    The is the third year that BIG has been co-organising the Josh Award. We saw some very strong entries and choosing a winner was not easy. The award panel were impressed with Katie’s plan for an event at the Manchester Science festival and with her commitment to bringing mathematics to the fore in everyday life.

  • 19 Apr 2016 2:57 PM | Anonymous member

    This year BIG is offering 2-3 bursary places which will pay registration fees for the BIG Event in Belfast and give limited travel and accommodation support. This is open to BIG members who are in the first five years of their professional career and have not attended a previous BIG Event.

    The Bursary scheme is now open for applications until Fri 6 May

    Find out more 

  • 28 Mar 2016 8:42 PM | Anonymous

    Are you - or do you know - an amazing science communicator who is at a defining moment in their career?

    The Josh Award is an award established to recognise and support up-and-coming talent in science communication. The award recognises a defining moment in the career of a science communicator; a person who is a practicing scientist or someone who has chosen science communication as their profession.

    This defining moment could be a game changing project, piece of work, way of working or a key moment of change, creativity, innovation or passion. A defining moment in a career that has transformed science communication practice, inspired others or changed the landscape of science communication.

    The award provides the opportunity to become the science communicator in residence at the Manchester Science Festival 2016, developing and delivering a new project or event while showcasing best practise in the field of science communication.

    The winner will receive support to nurture their development in the field and their involvement in the Manchester Science Festival from both the Festival team and the BIG STEM Communicators Network.

    You can find out more about the Award and the simple application process at www.big.uk.com/josh

    Closing date 15 April.

  • 25 Feb 2016 6:46 PM | Anonymous

    Registration is now open for the BIG Event, Wed 20 - Fri 22 July at W5 Science Centre in Belfast.

    The BIG Event is a three-day conference offering an unmissable opportunity to squeeze the skills and ideas out of all the STEM engagement people you can in a short space of time.

    The BIG Event is relevant for designers, presenters, educators, students, front of house staff, evaluators, educationalists, funders, and anyone involved in public engagement with science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM). Many people working in the STEM engagement field have little opportunity to cross paths with their peers, so the BIG Event was designed with exactly this in mind.

    More than 40 workshops, discussions, shows, and even a sprinkling of sessions that simply can’t be categorised; this is the place to:

    - share skills and experiences

    - develop professional links and keep up-to-date with the STEM engagement field

    - hone your skills and recharge your professional batteries

    - pick up great ideas and show off your talents to peers

    - meet your next employer

    Register and find out more at www.big.uk.com/bigevent16

    Low cost flights from Flybe, RyanAir, Easyjet available from all UK airports to Belfast City or Belfast International Airports.

  • 22 Feb 2016 3:27 PM | Anonymous

    Are you - or do you know - an amazing science communicator who is at a defining moment in their career?

    The Josh Award is an award established to recognise and support up-and-coming talent in science communication. The award recognises a defining moment in the career of a science communicator; a person who is a practicing scientist or someone who has chosen science communication as their profession.

    This defining moment could be a game changing project, piece of work, way of working or a key moment of change, creativity, innovation or passion. A defining moment in a career that has transformed science communication practice, inspired others or changed the landscape of science communication.

    The award provides the opportunity to become the science communicator in residence at the Manchester Science Festival 2016, developing and delivering a new project or event while showcasing best practise in the field of science communication.

    The winner will receive support to nurture their development in the field and their involvement in the Manchester Science Festival from both the Festival team and the BIG STEM Communicators Network.

    You can find out more about the Award and the simple application process here.

  • 15 Feb 2016 3:41 PM | Anonymous member

    Just one week left to put forward your excellent ideas for sessions that will plump out the BIG Event with succulent morsels of professional development. 

    Don't forget - session providers/speakers receive a discount on the registration fee to attend the BIG Event.


  • 25 Jan 2016 6:00 PM | Anonymous

    Would you like to run a session for 150-or-so STEM Communicators at this year's BIG Event in Belfast on 20-22 July?

    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. The content for the BIG Event is created by the members. And the people who say they get the most out of it are the people who contribute the content.

    Your session ideas can be put forward now until 22 February on the BIG Event session proposals site www.bigevent.info

  • 06 Jan 2016 10:33 AM | Anonymous

    One of the best things about the BIG Event, according to many of you, is that it moves around. It gives you that excuse you’ve been looking for to go and have a butchers at that science centre, museum (or something) that you’ve been meaning to drop in on but never actually have. And lots of you love the chance to plan your own holidays round your BIG development needs.

    So we’re heading to the W5 Science Centre in Belfast this summer, which offers:

    • A great science engagement venue with lots of space (indoors and out)
    • A vibrant science communication field, keen to host and contribute to a BIG muster 
    • A city location with lots nearby – great places to eat, meet, museums and sites to see
    • Cheap to get to – Belfast’s airports serve all the places you could ever hope to fly from at a VERY LOW COST

    W5 is only ten mins taxi trundle from Belfast City Airport and the place is small and friendly enough that you’d be hard pressed to get out of departures without hooking up with another BIG person to share your taxi with. They could help carry all that stuff you like to bring. Visit Belfast has given us lots of support already and are making plans to help BIG-Event-goers stay on in Northern Ireland for their hols – more on that later.

    You can decide what sessions to go to later (you know they’ll be right up your street and if they’re not, propose your own), but If you fancy adding ‘efficiency’ to your list of new year’s resolutions, then why not start by grabbing a cheap flight now from just £25 with FlyBe, EasyJet or RyanAir.

    The call for session proposals will open soon so keep an eye out for that in your inboxes. Any questions about what the venue can take, email event@big.uk.com

  • 09 Dec 2015 4:55 PM | Anonymous

    10 bursaries to attend this year's Little Event up for grabs! But get applying quickly because the deadline for applications is 18th December. 

    Each bursary worth £100 covers an annual BIG membership, registration fees for the Little Event and £25 towards travel expenses.

    The Little Event is for people who are relatively new to STEM communication, whether they work in a science centre or museum, volunteer for a festival, are involved in university outreach, or do anything else to engage people with sciences. It’s a lot like the BIG Event, but a bit smaller, and all crammed into one busy day. There will be several sessions, each focusing on developing a different skill, delivered by experienced science communicators following our usual hands-on approach.

    But of course it isn’t just about the sessions, it’s the people you meet there too. The Little Event presents a great opportunity to meet people from across the UK working in similar roles and sharing similar experiences. The programme for the day will include sessions on Learning & evaluation, Interacting with the public, Managing your engagement project, Presenting and careers. 

    If you wish to apply for one of the 10 free places, applying is simple.  Just email admin@big.uk.com by noon on Friday 18th December with the subject line "Bursary application Little Event" to tell 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. If you have already registered for the Event you can still apply for the bursary and we will refund your registration if you are successful.

    Successful applicants will be notified by 23rd December by email.

    For more information or to book click here 

    Sarah Vining, Administrator


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