Scott Keir sings the praises of science venues. I’d like to talk about a particularly important science centre for Nature Networkers—the venue for our forthcoming bloggers conference.

London’s Royal Institution is perhaps the most august scientific site on the planet. If buildings had CVs, the Ri would boast the discovery of 10 chemical elements among its previous roles, list 14 Nobel Prizes in its achievements, and cite Michael Faraday, Humphry Davy and William Bragg as referees.

The building has been closed for two years for major rebuilding. I took a hardhat tour a few days back to see how the refit is progressing. Apart from the lecture theatre, the Ri is still very much a building site. The new atrium, cafe, bar, exhibition space and public-facing laboratory are filled with dust, drills and plywood. The paintings are in plastic sheeting. Yet in just two week Queen Elizabeth II will reopen the building.

Fortunately, many areas are nearing completion. The classical external façade has been preserved and restored in a tasteful cream colour. On top, a special plank for the rooftop equivalent of defenestration seems to have been installed. Bad lecturers be warned.

Inside, the Faraday theatre looks stunning in purple and blue. This is the space where the main lectures will take place during our blogging conference. Speakers will be treading the boards once occupied by these prestigious scientists.

At the conference, we’ll also have access to a number of smaller rooms, including a pair of libraries and several anterooms. Those who want to can also explore the exhibition spaces, where you can talk to a holographic Michael Faraday and learn more about all those Nobel Prizes and chemical elements.

More details on the venue can be found in my previous site tour, and read the inside story of the lecture hall from the Royal Institution’s own historian.