Science Oxford manages the Oxford hub of The Presenter Network – a local, national and international network set up for presenters to share best and worst practice. There are hubs across the UK united under the same Presenter Network Manifesto but operating on a local level. The Royal Observatory Greenwich hub coordinates the network as a whole.
Who is it for?
The Presenter Network is for people who are actively involved in presenting in museums, science and discovery centres, visitor centres, educational institutes, other public spaces and in the media. This includes science communicators. The network was created so that presenters can get together and share best practice as well as watch others in action to develop their presenting style. The Oxford Hub is managed by Ian Snell of Science Oxford and he coordinates the local meet-ups.
How much does it cost?
Taking part in network events is FREE and the network is not specifically funded. This group operates purely on the good will of our members with all meet-ups, leaders, speakers and workshops facilitators offering their time and experience for free. We are incredibly grateful to all the members for their enthusiasm, generosity and help to keep this network alive.
Why do you focus on presenting?
Quite simply because there is a demand for it. There are many other fantastic networks out there with a much wider remit than just presenting. We don’t compete with them, but rather compliment them, by dedicating our focus to addressing a very specific aspect of public communication.
How often do they run?
We plan our sessions to suit our local network. Hubs usually meet once every three months and always between 3pm and 5pm. There is also an annual conference held at the Royal Observatory Greenwich.
What is the structure of a session?
The order of the sessions is always the same: one hour taking part in a facilitated workshop followed by a one-hour facilitated group discussion. Every topic idea for a session comes from the network. This could be that someone has presented something new and learned things they want to share, or they could be having difficulty with something and looking for advice.