Autocues and why is Big Ben called Big Ben?

Practising news presenting!

So far this month I have talked to the Science Museum, met an MP and last but not least completed some news presenter training! Today I will meet the Executive Vice President from WES (Women's Engineering Society) who will tell me a bit more about the organisation and what is still to come this year.

The Science Museum are designing a new engineering exhibition which will open in about a year's time. I had a phone call with a lady who is part of this team to help her with her research about what engineering is and what engineers do on a day to day basis. They are still figuring out how to structure this is an engaging and informative way; it will be a challenge to represent all of the different sides to engineering... I can't wait to see it!

I met the local MP for the area where I grew up and went to school, Patrick Mercer. He offered his support for any events I attend in his constituency and as he is a historian, we diverged and started talking about all sorts of other topics including why Big Ben is called Big Ben (apparently named after the 19th Centuty bare knuckle boxer Benjamin Caunt).

​Finally, on Friday I had a training session with the IET (Institute of Engineering and Technology) on news presenting and reading autocues in preparation for recording the IET news this week. I learnt one very important lesson - for some reason energy seems to be sucked out by the camera so it's crucial to be painfully enthusiastic and amplify your personality when being filmed!

---