DR MELANIE QUIN 1958 – 2025 It is with great sadness that we report the passing of one of our founders, Melanie Quin. Many thanks to Ian Simmons for kindly writing her obituary, which can be found on our website. www.big.uk.com/sys/website/...

Executive Committee Results 2025 Thank you to everyone who put themselves forward to be part of exec, this amazing group of volunteers are what makes BIG able to run every year! Congratulations to those who have been duly elected, your freelance team are excited to work with you all!

I’ve had a blast at my first @big-stem-network.bsky.social meeting at the RI. Learning from a host of amazing people who dedicate their life to sharing the joy of science and make it as accessible as possible. From games and demos, to science TV shows and animal displays. #sciencecomms #naturecomms

Celebrating Ruadh Duggan win silver medal at @big-stem-network.bsky.social #BigEvent2025 #BestDemo

#Bigevent2025 @big-stem-network.bsky.social BIG poem 2025 #1 There's always something going on at BIG, From finding your feet to finding freelance gigs. If you lose your name badge THAT'S OKAY Just get your audience thinking in mathematical ways. And asking questions that are SUPERcool,

Leaving my 10th BIG Event as the incoming Chair of @big-stem-network.bsky.social Not bad for someone who was told SciComm was probably ‘too competitive a career for someone like you’ 15 years ago. Here’s to the next year of BIG!

Big shout out to @petergallivan.bsky.social and @kathrynboast.bsky.social for an unprecedented joint winning of @big-stem-network.bsky.social best demo .some really great #scicomm

What’s this about then? @big-stem-network.bsky.social #BigEvent2025

Well, it's been a bit of a whirlwind and our event manager has struggled to find time for social media But here's a highlight for you! The winners of this year's Best Demo Competition, in joint 1st place, are @kathrynboast.bsky.social and @petergallivan.bsky.social

Getting set for day 2 @big-stem-network.bsky.social event at @ri-science.bsky.social talking demos and stories

Looking forward to a nice day trip to London to attend the @big-stem-network.bsky.social event at @ri-science.bsky.social

Look what we found #BIGEvent25 @big-stem-network.bsky.social

Can you guess what is being hummed ... #BIGEvent25 @big-stem-network.bsky.social

Heading to the UK's premier #scicomm conference today. @big-stem-network.bsky.social event hosted at the royal institution. See you there

On my way to the #BIGEvent2025 at @ri-science.bsky.social, perhaps the only conference it's perfectly normal to bring a blender with you to... @big-stem-network.bsky.social

And were off! The BIG Event 2025 is now underway! #BIGEvent25

On our way to the pre-conference social! In London tonight? Join us for a beverage at the Goat Tavern in Mayfair (just round the corner from the Royal Institution) from 7pm New and not sure who to look for? Look for the guy in the extremely over the top D&D themed Hawaiian shirt.

If you're at @big-stem-network.bsky.social this week or if you order anything from canopyrobin.etsy.com you can have one of these stickers for free 🏳️‍⚧️

Heading to the @big-stem-network.bsky.social annual meeting and can't believe it's been a year since I won the Best Demo competition with what was totally a demo of the scientific distinctions between cups and mugs and not at all a call out of gender critical pseudoscience 👀 youtu.be/oxg-COlAqcY?...

It's a hot one! We wanted to let you know that the Royal Institution is going to be a HOT building this week, and to make sure you are ready for the London heat. If you need any assistance, please speak to a member of the BIG Exec Committee or a member of staff at the Royal Institution.

I've made it to London, and of course I'm here for the conference I've organised. But most importantly I get to see some of my best pals in the world this week. First up, @drtalksalot.bsky.social!

Anyone travelling to London today? Event Manager Sam and his Event Manager Plan are almost there, a whole 48 hours early When do you get to the capital? #BIGEvent25

Are you in London this coming week and wanna hang out with cool #scicomm professionals? You can join delegates from the BIG Event 2025 at the Goat Tavern in Mayfair on Tuesday from 7pm BST. And then, you could come join us for a bite to eat or drinks at Seven Dials Market on Wednesday at 7pm BST.

I guess now is a good time to make sure folks going to @big-stem-network.bsky.social BIG event know that you've got a week to dig out and pack any lasers you'd like testing. An alarming number of (especially cheap..) laser pointers are Dangerously Not What They Say They Are. We can check yours!

It's almost time for #BIGEvent25 and we're so excited that @hanaayoob.co.uk and @acescicomm.bsky.social will be running their #NerdyLooks challenge all week! Get your nerdiest looks sorted, whether it's that new Lucy & Yak jumpsuit, an over the top lanyard or something else, we wanna see it!

There’s still time to cast your vote for the 2025/2026 Executive Committee. Read about the various roles at www.big.uk.com/volunteer/ and cast your vote at docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F... by 11am Thursday 17th July. The winners will be announced at the AGM later that day, as part of the BIG Event.

What we need now is a queer army* I'm excited to announce my latest Pride pins: a whole crew of queer frogs 🐸 Please share them and check out the thread below to meet the gang 🧵 canopyrobin.etsy.com/uk/listing/4... *Army is the collective noun for a group of frogs

In 3 weeks time, the BIG Event will land in London! We'll be at the Royal Institution for 3 days with a huge range of incredible science communication sessions from our members! You still have time to sign up to join us in person or online! Book at the link below! www.big.uk.com/BIG2025

It's hard to imagine a more deserving winner - Congratulations, Katie!

Yay. Fantastic news. Well done @steckl.es 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

HUGE congratulations to @steckl.es - the force of nature (and mathematics) who has won this year's #UK Beetlestone Award. Such amazing energy and dedication to share her love of #maths

Massive congratulations to @steckl.es - this is so well deserved!

I won a thing! Thanks to the committee for choosing me, and I'm in very good company alongside the previous winners! I'm proud to be able to support the science communication community and be a part of it.

🌟 Beetlestone Award 2025 🌟 The Beetlestone Award Organising Committee is delighted to announce the 2025 winner of this prestigious Award, given for leadership and legacy in Communicating Science, is Dr Katie Steckles.

Anyone else getting excited now? The full programme for BIG is published on Monday morning, and you can still join us by buying your in person or online tickets now!

This will be my 10th BIG so to say I recommend attending is a bit of an understatement! Get your tickets before it sells out! (Alt below)

I'm incredibly excited to attend my first BIG! If anyone going knows Tom Lehrer's The Elements song, please find me and we can do a sing-along in the RI Museum with the Periodic Table that plays the song 🎶⚛️

There's still time to book your tickets for this year's BIG Event at the RI in London, 16th - 18th July. Come for one, two or all three days, or join sessions online if you can't get there in person. Browse the programme and book your tickets at www.big.uk.com/BIG2025 #BIGEvent25

There's still time to book your tickets for this year's BIG Event at the RI in London, 16th - 18th July. Come for one, two or all three days, or join sessions online if you can't get there in person. Browse the programme and book your tickets at www.big.uk.com/BIG2025 #BIGEvent25

At the BIG Event 2025, we're doing things a little differently! Let's dive into some of the changes Session Themes - We've got 4 dedicated tracks of themed content across all our sessions, so you'll be able to focus on the topics which suit you! This will be clear on the web and in our brochure!

Kid's publishing people, and adjacents! I've written a draft of a kids picture book text in a genre I'm calling GIANT SQUID MAGICAL REALISM. My 4 year old and 8 year old like it, but does anyone want to have a look at it? 🦑 🦑 🦑 🦑 🦑 🦑 🦑 🦑 🦑 🦑 🦑

Are you in Edinburgh? Join this training with Katie and Ben next week on maths communication skills for just £15, an absolute bargain!

There are still spaces on this all-day maths comm training course I'm running with @SparksMaths.bsky.social next week in Edinburgh - join us for just £15 to pick up tips on speaking/presenting, hands-on maths activities, storytelling & other useful skills: www.ticketsource.co.uk/london-mathe...

Want the chance to show off that new demo idea you've been working on? The BIG Best Demo Competition is open for applications until 10th June! This is your chance to perform a science demo, in under 3 minutes, in the world famous lecture theatre at @ri-science.bsky.social tinyurl.com/4dv5vm9b

A certain well known figure in the sector showed us all how to take a new plastic fiver and make the Queen pick her nose!

My first BIG Event was in Edinburgh at Dynamic Earth, and I remember feeling extremely at home surrounded by complete strangers who made me feel very, very welcome. End up being voted on to the committee by surprise, and the rest is history

That time I dressed up as a judge - while Naomi Foster & @snowd99.bsky.social argued for & against volunteering

What's a memory you have from a previous BIG Event that sticks out in your brain? As small or as big as you like, what to you has made previous BIG events memorable?

EARLY BIRD BIG EVENT REGISTRATION If you are paying for your early bird tickets by invoice, you have until 2nd June to pay your invoices, after which you will have to rebook at full price. #BIGEvent25