The Aurora Innovation Centre at the British Antarctic Survey headquarters in Cambridge features a Collaboration Space for members from business, academia, and policy who share our passion for environmental stewardship, technologies for our challenging environments and AI for environmental research applications.
The open office space hosts 32 desks, with an additional eight hot-desks. Unlike most traditional start-up office spaces, the Aurora Collaboration Space is located in a fully functioning science institute, home to a broad range of environmental science and supporting engineering and operations teams and beyond. The Aurora Innovation Centre hosts a repertoire of events that offer potential networking opportunities.
We run a monthly talk series called Knowledge Snacks bringing together Aurora Members, external guests speakers and BAS staff. The session format is 2×15 min talks on specialist topics, followed by Q&A and networking.
Whether an individual sole trader or international corporation you can access our desk space, Aurora expertise and site venue facilities through Membership, as well as benefit from up to 30% off our standard venue booking rates.
If you are interested in becoming an Aurora Member, or would like to contribute to a future Knowledge Snack, please introduce yourself to us via email.
We build partnerships with individuals, academics and businesses who share our values, and whose expertise and interests complement ours. Jointly we aim to address issues of global importance, helping society adapt to a changing world.
Our partners are global, national and local. From groundwater monitoring in Morocco to high resolution climate modelling in the Himalayas, from fisheries management in Brazil to understanding arctic sea ice loss, polar expertise is relevant from north to south, from east to west. Our polar operations provide a testbed for innovation under extreme conditions, whilst our understanding of polar biodiversity contributes to a sustainable bioeconomy. We are keen to talk to you and explore how our expertise can add benefit to your work.
Please contact one of our Innovation Team members, or email us here.
Part-time, desk use one day per week – just £89/month for remainder of 2020.
Full-time, desk is yours – £250/month for remainder of 2020.
Non-discrimination: The Aurora is a space for all, no matter your identity. Discrimination on grounds of age, sex, race, religious beliefs, gender identity or sexual orientation has no place at British Antarctic Survey. Remember this when interacting with others. It is our responsibility to make sure the Aurora is a safe place for everyone – please tell us if you are worried about anything.
Accessibility information: The Aurora Centre has step-free access and accessible toilets at both levels of the building. The Conference Theatre and rooms are equipped with infrared assisted hearing. We are always striving to make our venue more welcoming to all. If you have any feedback or would like to request additional information, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.
The Aurora Innovation Centre is located at the British Antarctic Survey HQs in Cambridge. We are located a few minutes walk from Madingley Road free P&R with 4 electric vehicle bays, very easy access from the M11, and a bus service in/out of the city centre/train station. For Cambridge-based visitors, cycling is by far the easiest access option.
Director of Innovations and Impact
Information Services team, Innovation team, BAS Management team, UK Polar Data Centre team, BAS Executive team
6 April, 2020
British Antarctic Survey (BAS) has precautionary measures to limit the spread of COVID-19. Our organisation continues to function well in spite of most of our staff working from home. Science and support teams who have completed summer fieldwork are currently being repatriated to UK.
We are working on a raft of measures to reduce our carbon emissions at our Cambridge Headquarters, including installation of solar panels on the car park and roofs of buildings, and adding insulation to our Logistics building.
This collaborative project is born from exploring novel ways of visualising environmental data and telling the climate change story. Read more about the project and the science behind it through the project page.
IceNet is a probabilistic, deep learning sea ice forecasting system developed by an international team and led by British Antarctic Survey and The Alan Turing Institute [Andersson et al., 2021]. …
Testimonials from Aurora Members:
“Great location, great support team, an interesting community of companies, and a welcoming environment to work in”
-Chris
“The Aurora co-working space works really well for us. It’s great to have proper, ergonomically designed desks and chairs rather than the impractical communal tables that so many spaces provide. Aurora is well equipped with meeting rooms, a good size kitchen and the Icebreaker restaurant for lunch. But above all, it’s the attitude of the team that sets this space apart. They’re very supportive of the community, always offering us practical help, making introductions and involving us in networking opportunities. Co-working spaces can be rather ‘style over substance’ but that’s not the case here. I think it might be the best kept secret in Cambridge.”
-Caroline
“Working in the Aurora Collaboration Space has been great so far, as much for the working environment than for the people you meet. Working with other companies in the same space is a good way of socialising and expanding your horizons! And, I love the biscuits…”
-Max
“As a coworking space Aurora is spacious and bright, its connection with the British Antarctic Survey is inspiring, staff are most helpful and there is a sense of community. It is rare to find all of these in one place”
-Pantea
