Planning your exhibit
Exhibit space dimensions
All exhibit spaces fit one of the below dimensions.
- 2m deep x 4m long
- 3m deep x 3m long
All exhibits must not exceed 3m in height.
YOU CANNOT EXCEED THESE DIMENSIONS
We will try and take into consideration your preference for exhibit dimensions, and you will have opportunity to specify on Form A. Confirmation of your allocated exhibit dimensions will be confirmed by 7 February.
As the Royal Society building at Carlton House Terrace is very old, there are some restrictions on what what we can provide in each room. Therefore, your exhibit location will be allocated based on the requirements you specify in Form B. It is extremely important you are as accurate as possible when listing your activities and power and internet requirements for your stand. You will be informed of your allocated exhibit space by Friday 3 April.
Spaces will be marked out prior to set up of the Exhibition. Any equipment located outside of your allocated area will be removed.
Please refer to the exhibition floor plan for more information. (available April 2020)
Storage
There is no storage space at the Royal Society. Please consider how you can incorporate necessary storage space in the design of your stand. No packaging materials or boxes should be left on display, or stored behind exhibits, as this poses a Health and Safety risk. If you cannot store packaging or equipment on your stand, please arrange to take it off site.
What the Royal Society can provide
Power supply
Exhibit spaces have access to different levels of power due to the building design. Please specify your exhibits power requirements in Form B.
- 13-Amp power points as standard
- We can supply between one to four power points per stand
- Extension leads are available on request (one per power outlet) to increase the capacity for your space
- Please specific approximate total power if different to standard household power sockets
Internet and IT resources
- WiFi access is available for all exhibits as standard.
- The Royal Society is part of the JANET network and requires your computers to support WPA
- Cable/Wired internet access available on request, please specify your requirements in Form B
- Limited IT support will be available onsite during the Exhibition from Monday - Friday, during office hours
Risk assessments
A signed risk assessment for your stand must be completed and submitted to exhibition@royalsociety.org by Friday 1 May. The following risk assessment template should be used when completing your form.
When completing your assessment, consider:
- The risks to both the exhibitors and the public
- Risks for set-up, exhibition, and pack down stages
Why is it important to fill out this risk assessment?
The Royal Society is housed in a Grade 1 listed building with limited space in each room. During the Exhibition, we can have up to 1000 people in the building during busy periods, which means it can get very crowded and hot, and accidents can happen as a result. The welfare of our visitors, exhibitors and staff is paramount. Therefore, the assessment form is designed to help you identify and document any potential risks that your stand/activities may pose, even if they seem small or insignificant, and help you to implement measures to avoid these hazards.
In addition to the public visitors we have to the Exhibition, we also welcome a high number of student and teacher visitors during the week. As part of their health and safety requirements, schools are legally required to collect a risk assessment from the Royal Society, outlining the potential risks around the Exhibition and specific exhibits. They must receive this before they are able to authorise any visit and bring students to the Exhibition. Your completed risk assessment will feed into this documentation and it is therefore crucial that you fill it out as accurately and comprehensively as possible.
Instructions for completing
- Please complete the risk assessment form by Friday 1 May, and return it to exhibition@royalsociety.org along with a copy of your institution's Public Liability Insurance and your Exhibit Plan.
- The form must be typed up as an Excel document and not completed by hand.
- The risk table in the template form has been pre-populated with general risks that are encountered taking part in the exhibition. You should CHECK the details of the pre-populated hazards are suitable for your stand and ADD in your stand specific hazards in the empty boxes below, adding rows where necessary.
- Also listed are some optional hazards which may be applicable to your stand, depending on your activities. Please delete these as appropriate.
- Your risk assessment needs to be signed by the lead exhibitor and co-signed by your department lead for Health and Safety.
Exhibit safety
Insurance
It is the responsibility of the exhibitors to insure their exhibits and personal belongings against theft and third party risks. The Society can take no responsibility for any loss of, or damage to, items left on the premises before, during or after the Exhibition. This includes all personal effects and anything on the exhibits themselves. The Royal Society is covered for public liability but is not responsible for Third Party risks so we recommend you check with your organisations in this respect.
Exhibitors’ institutions should have Public Liability cover with a minimum of £2,000,000 and you will be asked to submit a copy of the certificate along with your risk assessment and final exhibit design.
Health and Safety
- Electrical equipment must have an up to date PAT test, with the sticker on the piece of equipment matching the PAT certificate.
- All chemicals require COSHH certificates, including details of reactions, first aid requirements and cleaning considerations.
- Allergies and ailments must be specified clear on any giveaways. Please put controls in place, inform visitors of the risks, and have alternative materials available where possible.
- Potential hazards include:
- Latex (Glove, balloons)
- Needle stick injuries
- Cement
- LASERS
- Biological agents
- Asthma
- Skin Diseases
Live animals
Exhibits may include live animals, subject to Home Office regulations. If you are planning to include live animals in your exhibit please discuss this with the Exhibition team, as soon as possible. You will usually be required to take live animals off site with you when the Exhibition is closed.
Set up and break down
Set up and breakdown can only happen at the times specified in our deadlines, and MUST be completed within those times. Expected delivery times for your exhibit set up should be noted on Form C.
You will be allocated collection times by the exhibition team on a first come, first served basis once you have dismantled your exhibit.
Please make sure you have sufficient equipment and people to unload/pack up your exhibit, as Royal Society Staff will not be available to help you. A limited number of trolleys and ladders may be available, but we recommend you bring your own wherever possible. There may be unavoidable queues on delivery and collection, please be patient.
Access
To make it easier to bring exhibit equipment to your assigned space, please pay attention to the following dimensions. They show the narrow points which will affect your delivery, and there is no other route into the building.
If your equipment does not fit through the below spaces, you will not be able to include it in your exhibit.
Front gates
3.2m and 3.05m wide. You may be required to unload through either of these.
Forecourt
Forecourt at the widest points: 9m x 21.7m
The gradient runs uphill towards the building on a slight slope.
Front entrance of the building
There are steps into front door of the building. We will have ramps set up to cover these, however, if your equipment is particularly heaving or large and you plan to use our ramps rather than your own, please contact us to check that this option will work prior to the exhibition.
Door: 2.4m x 1.2m.
Lift to first floor
Door: 0.90m wide x 2.06m high
Lift: 1.22m deep x 1.27m wide x 2.06m high
Weight capacity: 800kg
During the Exhibition
Staffing your stand
- A minimum of two exhibitors must staff the stand at any one time, however we would recommend 4-5 exhibitors are present at all times. Exhibitors should be on site 30 minutes prior to opening times.
- At the weekends and late public openings you may want to increase this to at least 6.
- We recommend no team member works the full exhibition week without at least a morning/afternoon off. The week is long and busy and it's important exhibitors are adequately rested to best engage with the public.
- Exhibit teams in previous years have ranged from 15 - 60 people, we recommend you recruit as many volunteers as possible.
Exhibitors green room
There will be an Exhibitors Room in the Mercer Room at the Royal Society where you can go for your breaks if desired during Exhibition opening times.
- The Exhibitors Room is not secure. We recommend you do not leave personal belongings there
- WiFi is available
- Tea, coffee and water facilitates provided
- It is not possible to use this room for storage during the Exhibition
Accommodation
A number of London colleges and universities make their halls of residence available during the summer. These are very reasonable prices and you can often get extra discounts for group bookings. Make sure you book your accommodation in plenty of time, as they get booked up early.
London South Bank University
Goldsmith's
University of East London
University of Greenwich
Imperial College London
London School of Economics
Kings College London
University of Westminster
City University London
Queen Mary's, University of London
University College London
You may also wish to try the Youth Hostel Association or International Student House.
Accommodation recommended by previous exhibitors:
The Ship Inn, Kennington
Parking
There is very limited pay and display parking available near to the Royal Society, with no parking available within the Royal Society forecourt. We recommend that if you plan to keep your vehicles all week, you look for accommodation with parking included.
A limited number of parking bays will be available for set up and break down. These will be offered on a first come first served basis. On-street parking outside the Royal Society is pay-and-display and is expensive, though free on Sundays.
Westminster Council has more information about parking in the local area. Do also keep the congestion charge in mind.
Catering
During the Exhibition opening times, tea, coffee and water will be provided in the Exhibitors green room. Exhibitors are welcome to consume their own food and drink in this space.
A small subsistence grant of £400 will be provided to the lead exhibitor to cater for their team lunches and other meals.
There will be a Cafe on site during the Exhibition, located in the Marquee. Exhibitors are welcome to use this facility or go elsewhere to buy their lunch. Unfortunately we are unable to take food deliveries during the week of Summer Science Exhibition, but many local amenities offer a collection service for orders.
Exhibitors staffing their stands during the Soirees are invited to join the guests for the buffet supper provided.
Exhibitors are asked not to eat or drink whilst on duty at their exhibits.