The Great Science Auction 2019
Have you ever wanted to spend the day with Christmas Lecturer Hannah Fry? Tour an observatory with Danielle George? Make a space suit with Dallas Campbell? Visit Alison Woollard's genetics lab? Have your own kids' science workshop hosted by Andrew Szydlo? Have an 8-course lunch at the chef's table at Heston Blumenthal's Dinner? Get your hands on some VIP CHRISTMAS LECTURES tickets? Well now is your chance!
With the holidays around the corner, these once-in-a-lifetime experiences would make amazing gifts for any science and culture enthusiasts in your life. You would definitely win the title of best gift-giver. Our Great Science Auction gives you exclusive insight and access to exciting scientists across the world.
All money raised from the Great Science Auction will help fund the Ri’s growing education, heritage and science engagement programmes. Your philanthropy and support is vital in our mission to inspire everyone about science, and provide opportunities for each and every one of us to learn and become involved in forging the future.
The Great Science auction runs from Thursday 3 October (10am) to Thursday 31 October (9pm). Enter here.
List of prizes
1. Experience the CHRISTMAS LECTURES with a pair of VIP tickets that include a Tour of Past CHRISTMAS LECTURES and a meet-and-greet with Dr Hannah Fry on 12/12/2019. Click here to bid on this prize.
2. Experience the CHRISTMAS LECTURES with a pair of VIP tickets that include a Tour of Past CHRISTMAS LECTURES and a meet-and-greet with Dr Hannah Fry on 14/12/2019. Click here to bid on this prize.
3. Experience the CHRISTMAS LECTURES with a pair of VIP tickets that include a Tour of Past CHRISTMAS LECTURES and a meet-and-greet with Dr Hannah Fry on 17/12/2019. Click here to bid on this prize.
4. Bobby Seagull took our breath away on University Challenge. Now is your chance to have join your quiz team or host a quiz for your organisation or school. Click here to bid on this prize.
5. A space talk and creative craft making spacesuit workshop for a school or kids’ club, with science broadcaster and space historian Dallas Campbell. Click here to bid on this prize.
6. Learn all about genetics, from tiny roundworms to humans, with this VIP lab tour by past Christmas Lecturer Professor Alison Woollard. Click here to bid on this prize.
7. Want to conduct your own explosive science demos? Now is your chance! Join chemistry expert Andrew Szydlo for an unbelievably fun family workshop. Click here to bid on this prize.
8. VIP tour of the British Museum Mesopotamian collection and the beautiful Arched room with curator of cuneiform inscriptions, Dr Irving Finkel. Click here to bid on this prize.
9. Enjoy a one-to-one breakfast with particle physicist Dr Harry Cliff and have all your particle physics questions answered. Click here to bid on this prize.
10. Tour the UNESCO World Heritage site, Jodrell Bank Observatory and the Pickmere telescope, with former Christmas Lecturer Professor Danielle George. Click here to bid on this prize.
11. Family tour of the Science Museum's Maths gallery with Christmas Lecturer Hannah Fry. Ask her all of your maths questions over hot chocolate! Click here to bid on this prize.
12. A fascinating personalised tour of the Natural History Museum's Human Evolution Gallery with palaeoanthropologist Professor Chris Stringer. Click here to bid on this prize.
13. Discuss cosmology over coffee with Andrew Pontzen, and take home a unique one-off canvas print of your very own computer-modelled Universe. Click here to bid on this prize.
14. Lose yourself in the romance and magic of 1920s train travel on this spectacular journey with a five course fine dining experience. Click here to bid on this prize.
15. Enjoy exploring the wonderful world of science and its place in our lives? Get unlimited access to Ri talks for one year and bring a friend. Click here to bid on this prize.
16. Immerse the whole family in science, maths, engineering and fun with unlimited access to the Ri's family programme. Click here to bid on this prize.
17. Internationally renowned primatologist Frans de Waal will write a personal message of your choice in a signed copy of his latest book 'Mama's Last Hug'. Click here to bid on this prize.
18. A bespoke crypric crossword by heart surgeon Dr Samer Nashef, who in his spare time is a popular cryptic crossword compiler for the Guardian and the FT. Click here to bid on this prize.
19. Here at the Ri we definitely know a good science book when we see one, and for this prize we see lots! Click here to bid on this prize.
20. Enjoy an 8-course lunch for four people at the chef’s table at Heston Blumenthal’s Dinner. Heston is a three-starred Michelin chef who has delighted foodies all over the world with his gastronomic alchemy. Click here to bid on this prize.
21. A Berry Bros. & Rudd wine and dining experience for 14 people. Learn all about the science behind wine making by exploring different regions, grape varieties and styles and enjoy a delicious 3 course seasonal menu. Click here to bid on this prize.
22. This is your chance to take home a truly out-of-this-world "Man on the Moon" display, hand-signed by astronaut Buzz Aldrin. Click here to bid on this prize.
What do people think of the Great Science Auction?
'Our tour of the House of Lords with Julian did not disappoint. We saw some amazing historical artefacts, including the Death Warrant for Charles I with Oliver Cromwell’s signature, plain to see, and the stunning gold Royal Throne in the Lord’s Chamber. Each room we entered was brought to life by Julian's anecdotes and quizzes. Why is there a painting of King Phillip II of Spain amongst all of the other British Monarchs in the House of Lords? Why are the doorways into the Robing Room so wide and high? Why do the paintings in the Royal Gallery have special hooks to cover them up when certain dignitaries are visiting? All will be revealed when you get your tour with Julian. But don’t forget to ask him to show you the escape route out of the building for MPs when the King/Queen wanted their heads…just in case! And ask Julian why Maggie Thatcher might have wanted to use it when Nelson Mandela gave his speech in Westminster Hall.
It was a truly memorable day, worth the anxiety of the bidding process for an ‘oldie’ like me!'
– Dr Frances Woisin, Ri Member
Terms and conditions
Please read the full terms and conditions for each item on the Givergy page before entering.
Watch the trailer
See a handful of the prizes we have on offer.
How to enter
The Great Science Auction runs from 3–31 October 2019.
Enter here to win some amazing prizes.
The Great Science Auction is hosted on Givergy, a website dedicated to online auctions and raffles.
Why support us
This auction is run in support of the charitable education work that the Ri undertakes all year-round.
Our vision is to inspire everyone to think more deeply about science and its place in our lives.
Building on our heritage, our mission is to create opportunities for everyone to discover, discuss and critically examine science and how it shapes the world around us.
All money raised from the Great Science Auction will help fund our growing repertoire of events and activities, such as the immersive Mathematics, Engineering and Computer Science Masterclasses, public talks, the L’Oréal Young Scientist Centre and of course, the CHRISTMAS LECTURES.