For over 200 years, our building has been home to some of the most eminent scientists in history, who have used our building to communicate scientific developments and discoveries with our audiences. Throughout our history we’ve been harnessing technological innovation to help us engage the public with science, and since May 2020 we’ve been livestreaming all our public events, featuring world-leading scientists and thinkers, online for free.

The Ri provides science education and heritage activities for people of all ages and backgrounds across the UK and around the world. These activities include the world-famous CHRISTMAS LECTURES public talks from the world’s greatest thinkers in our historic lecture theatre (currently via Livestream); a national programme of Masterclasses for young people in mathematics and computer science; science workshops in our L’Oréal Young Scientist Centre; animations and films from our YouTube channel (which has over 1 million subscribers) and the preservation of our scientific legacy through the Faraday Museum and archival collections.

The Digital team

At the Ri, we see digital as an essential means of deepening our relationships with existing audiences and increasing their reach and diversity, as well as generating a growing income stream. Our digital channels bring thought-provoking science and our rich science heritage to millions of people online, many of whom may never set foot in our iconic and historical home in London.

Through our YouTube channel, we have already established ourselves as a world-leader in in-depth, longform science video. Our monthly podcasts are growing fast, and we are growing our online communities, reaching new audiences across all our digital platforms.

These are exciting times for the Ri Digital team, continuing to nurture our existing audiences, whilst reaching out to new ones, developing our video and multimedia content.

The role of the Digital Media Intern

As a Digital Media Intern you will help support the Ri’s digital content production and platforms.

There is some flexibility in the role, depending on the successful candidate’s interests and experience, and the time of year of the internship. We will provide some basic training in audio and video production.

Every day will be different, but potential tasks and responsibilities may include:

• Creating science engagement content for our social media platforms
• Helping film and livestream events
• Helping manage our YouTube channel
• Helping to develop our podcasts
• Marketing and promotion of our digital content
• Creating and editing content for the Ri’s new website
• Writing for our website and social media channels
• Monitoring our YouTube and podcast statistics and using this to make recommendations on how we can grow and develop our audiences
• Identifying under-performing content and finding ways for them to reach new audiences
• Helping develop new ideas for digital science engagement content
• Working on our social media and digital offer around the CHRISTMAS LECTURES
• Being involved in all aspects of video and photography production
• Helping to test and evaluate our digital content
• Assisting with digital marketing campaigns

Who are we looking for?

This placement would be ideal for anyone interested in learning more about digital media and discovering the potential for using digital media to communicate science to diverse and global audiences, whilst working collaboratively in a small and creative digital team.

There is no need to have any formal experience, but a passion for digital media would be ideal.

The following experience and personal attributes are also highly desirable, and when applying you should demonstrate how you meet them in your supporting statement:

• A strong understanding of how online science content can encourage an audience to ‘To create a space for scientists and the public to explore science together.”
• Ability to develop engaging content for a non-academic audience
• An understanding of the needs and requirements of website and digital users
• Ability to work collaboratively in a creative team with a passion for science communication

Practicalities

We are looking for a PhD student to join our Digital Media team for three months, from May to July 2024, with some flexibility around exact start dates.

This internship will be based within the Digital Team at the Royal Institution in Mayfair, London. This is a hybrid-working role, with the expectation to work on-site for at least two or three days a week, the remainder remotely, if preferred. The placement is full-time, 35 hours per week, Monday to Friday with occasional weekend or evening hours.

This opportunity is only open to PhD students who are eligible to undertake an internship as part of their studentship and receive a stipend from their Doctoral Training Programme (DTP). Please check with your university/DTP to ensure funding is available before applying for this internship.

Please note there is no formal agreement in place between RI and UKRI, and each placement will be reviewed by the grant holder and approved at their discretion. You will need to obtain the grant holder’s written permission to undertake the placement, outlining any funding arrangements, before a position can be offered.

As the position involves working with young people, the post holder will be required to undergo an Enhanced DBS clearance and related checks as mandated by UK laws and regulations.