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 Public Programme

The Royal Institution’s (Ri) public programme is one of the longest serving science engagement programmes in the world. It provides an intellectually stimulating array of opportunities for individuals to engage with science, explore the latest scientific advancements, and deepen their understanding of the world around them. From boundary-pushing creative engagement activities to viral lectures, and workshops presented by esteemed scientists, Nobel Prize winners, global leaders and more, the Ri prides itself on creating an inclusive space where all individuals, regardless of background or age, can participate in an intellectual exchange and expand their knowledge of scientific research and ideas.

The public programme is a remarkable resource for those with a passion for science, seeking to learn and engage in intellectual discourse.

We are now looking for a PhD Intern to contribute to the curation and speaker research for our Public Programme. This role provides an exciting opportunity for a PhD candidate to shape and enhance the content of our science events, ensuring they are innovative, engaging, and aligned with the interests of our diverse audience.

Primary duties of the role:

• Programme Curation: Assist in the development and curation of the Public Programme, identifying themes, topics, and formats that resonate with the target audience.
• Speaker Research: Conduct in-depth research to identify potential speakers, experts, and thought leaders in various scientific fields.
• Content Development: Collaborate with the Public Programmes team to contribute ideas for event content, ensuring it is intellectually stimulating and accessible to a broad audience.
• Communication with Speakers: Liaise with potential speakers, facilitating communication and gathering information necessary for event planning.
• Event Briefs: Prepare detailed event briefs for selected speakers, outlining the objectives, format, and expectations for their participation.
• Evaluation and Feedback: Participate in post-event evaluations, gathering feedback and insights to inform future curation and speaker selection.

Skills, Experience, and Knowledge:

Essential (E) Desirable (D)

Education:

E: Currently enrolled in a PhD program in a relevant field (e.g., science communication, science education).

Research and Curation Skills:

E: Strong research and curation skills, with an ability to identify compelling and diverse scientific topics.

E: Familiarity with innovative approaches to event programming.

Communication:

E: Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

E: Ability to engage with and communicate effectively with potential speakers.

Teamwork:

E: Ability to collaborate effectively with team members in the Public Programmes department.

Adaptability:

E: Flexibility and adaptability to work on various aspects of programme curation and speaker research.

Interest in Science Communication:

E: A keen interest in the activities of the Royal Institution, its public programme, and the role of science communication in society.

Practicalities

This is a three-month placement based at the Royal Institution offices in Mayfair and the intern will be supervised by the Senior Public Programmes Producer for Public Programmes.

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.