Big Ideas

The Big Ideas team creates programmes that encourage community participation, inclusion and cohesion across the arts, heritage, science and sport.

09/09/2026

Discover what planes and underwater vehicles have in common, and how principles of flight can help us design better vehicles for the sea at our STEM With Wings: Sky to Sea event on 3 & 4 November.

Meet aerospace engineer Krystina Pearson-Rampeearee AviateHer and explore connections between air and water engineering.

https://www.big-ideas.org/stem-with-wings-sky-to-sea/

08/09/2026

T-Minus 3 days until our NASA LIVE event with Artemis Engineers Howard Hu and Branelle Roriguez! Here are the astronauts from Artmemis II talking about what it was like to meet the engineers who helped them with their mission.

Join us for NASA LIVE by signing up at https://www.big-ideas.org/nasa-live/

NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration
NASA Artemis
Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851
Imperial College London

07/09/2026

This November Stories Behind the Poppy remembers those who lost their lives in the two World Wars with a focus on the Canadian soldiers who died in Europe and are buried in the United Kingdom.

On Tuesday 10th November join classes across Canada and the UK to Remember Together.

FREE and open to classes across the UK and Canada, suitable for ages 8-14. Register: https://www.big-ideas.org/stories-behind-the-poppy-remember-together-2026/

This programme is being offered free to schools thanks to the support of Maple Leaf Trust and Veterans Affairs Canada

02/09/2026

Book now for Black Heroes of Mathematics Youth Festival on 7 & 8 October. Taking place alongside the annual Black Heroes of Mathematics Conference, the FREE Youth Festival is a digital maths enrichment experience for schools, with events for lower secondary and upper primary classes

Find out more about our expert guests and book your place at https://www.big-ideas.org/black-heroes-of-mathematics-youth-festival-2026/

The festival is funded by the Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851 and held in association with the Black Heroes of Mathematics Conference, founded by Professor Nira Chamberlain OBE. With thanks to the conference partners – the International Centre for Mathematical Sciences, the Institute of Mathematics and its Applications, and the London Mathematical Society.

29/06/2026

Join us in September for this exciting event live from Imperial Space School. NASA Engineers Howard Hu and Branelle Rodriguez will share the story of Artemis II with young people in the UK.

This free event will give young people an opportunity to hear about the team behind the Orion spacecraft and its 10-day mission around the Moon.

NASA Live is made possible thanks to the generosity of the Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851, Imperial College London Space School and NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

Register now at https://www.big-ideas.org/nasa-live/

17/06/2026

What. A. Weekend.

The 1851der Tent was buzzing at the Great Exhibition Road Festival!

At Hydrogen Heroes with Gareth Hart and Charlie Hutchings, visitors discovered the role hydrogen could play in a cleaner energy future, exploring ideas shaping tomorrow’s energy systems. From creating hydrogen to driving with hydrogen to grabbing hydrogen—everyone became a hero.

At Visualising Sound, created by Zayna Ahmed with Ben Cooper, visitors stepped up to a microphone and sang songs, gave speeches, or made sounds, watching as their voices transformed into moving patterns of light and colour. Sound was experienced in new ways, expanding what it can mean and who it can reach.

And at our sprawling 3D model of the Crystal Palace, visitors added their own mini inventions, slowly building a shared vision of future innovation inside one of history’s most iconic structures

Huge thanks to everyone who joined us and to the Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851 for making it all possible.

Here’s to curiosity and creativity!

05/06/2026

On 30 June, discover and celebrate the world’s leading award for engineers and explore the theme of machine learning at this summer’s digital QEPrize Youth Festival.

The Queen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering champions bold, groundbreaking engineering innovation which is of global benefit to humanity.

During this fun FREE event, your class will take part in activities, meet inspiring role models and have opportunities to ask their questions to our special guests Yewande Akinola and Ben Money-Coomes .

This event is open to lower secondary and upper primary school classes across the UK.

Register: https://www.big-ideas.org/queen-elizabeth-prize-for-engineering-youth-festival/

01/06/2026

What is left when we clean water? Meet engineer Nicholas Nyamayedenga, and discover the story of Sludge at our FREE Stem With Wings: Sludge event on June 23 & 24.

Open to upper primary school and lower secondary school classes (ages 8-14) across the UK
Register: https://www.big-ideas.org/stem-with-wings-sludge/

STEM with Wings is free to schools thanks to RAF Youth STEM. This event is in partnership with University of Bradford and Aspcold

06/05/2026

Now expanded to schools across Norfolk and Suffolk! On May 14 join our free event to explore the world of nuclear engineering right on your doorstep in a fast-paced, interactive digital workshop.

Meet Beth, a programme engineer from Sizewell B, ask her your questions and discover how nuclear energy can help power a greener future.

Register - https://www.big-ideas.org/we-can-be-engineers-suffolk/

01/05/2026

Today is the 175th anniversary of The Great Exhibition of 1851!

We’re looking forward to returning to Great Exhibition Road Festival with the 1851der Tent for the 2026 Festival on 6-7 June
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http://www.big-ideas.org/

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