Client: Government Science & Engineering Profession, HMG
Event: Government Science & Engineering (GSE) Conference
Date: Monday 9 May 2022
No of guests: 400 in person guests, 2618 views to the online streaming site
Venue: Illuminate, IMAX Theatre and The Smith Centre
Event brief & objective:
Agreed objectives of the GSE Conference are to:
- Celebrate the achievements of government scientists and engineers.
- Increase connectedness between government scientists and engineers and other professionals with an interest in these areas.
- Raise awareness of the GSE offer including networks and opportunities
The brief for a venue included:
- Must be able to support both in person and virtual attendance.
- Must have space to display a large number of academic posters.
- Must be accessible (induction loop, wheelchair, closed captions, etc).
- Must be able to host a large plenary at the start for 400 guests, and at the end of the day.
- Must be able to host a minimum of 3 simultaneous breakout rooms.
Why did you choose the Science Museum?
The Science Museum was chosen because it has undertaken a significant amount of work in the COVID-19 vaccine roll out, and to be part of the programme for COP26. It is a publicly funded ALB of DCMS, and they are keen to encourage use of the venue for events of this nature.
How did you choose which spaces at the museum you wanted to use for this event?
We chose to use both Level 4 and 5 of Illuminate, IMAX: The Ronson Theatre and the Smith Centre. These spaces were chosen due to the number of guests we had attending and the briefing requirement for breakout space.
What F&B did you require? Did Moving Venue create anything bespoke for the event?
Moving Venue provided refreshments and lunch. With such a large space to cover, Moving Venue were able to offer checkpoints with water stations around the museum to allow guests to stay hydrated throughout the day.
In terms of AV and production, what did White Light provide for the event and was anything bespoke required?
On the day, all hired rooms were equipped with a light, sound, tech, and stream specialists. White Light also created a microsite for the online streaming, allowing virtual attendees to seamlessly transition from session to session, with interactive features which ensured virtual attendees were being heard.
What feedback did you receive from guests?
This was the first large scale event that many officials had attended since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Guests were delighted to be in a space such as the Science Museum, which was closed to the public, and really highlighted the importance of celebrating successes in science and engineering in a venue which had been helping to roll out the COVID-19 vaccine.
Client testimonial:
“It was great working with Jodie, Annabel, Mark, Fraser, Sirus and all the excellent professionals who were on hand to support the event. The team’s can-do attitude and quick problem solving ensured that the day ran smoothly and was enjoyable for all.” – Selina Khan, Communications and Engagement Lead at Government Office for Science
