AV Xpert Delivers Hybrid Event Support for Faraday Institute

Posted by Tom Brown on 14/08/2025

At AV Xpert, we’ve spent over a decade helping organisations connect with audiences both near and far through seamless hybrid conferencing. In 2022, the Faraday Institute for Science and Religion invited us to support their Annual Summer Course as they embraced a hybrid format for the first time in the event’s history. It was the start of a strong partnership built on trust, technical excellence, and a shared commitment to widening access.

This summer, from 30th June to 4th July, we were delighted to return to Lucy Cavendish College, University of Cambridge, to once again bring the Faraday Summer Course to life for both in-person and remote participants. Our team ensured that every talk, discussion, and Q&A could be shared seamlessly across the globe, allowing the Institute’s rich programme to continue to reach more people than ever before.

About The Faraday Institute

The Faraday Institute is a leading interdisciplinary research centre committed to improving public understanding of religious beliefs in relation to the sciences. For the past two decades, they have successfully hosted their annual summer course, bringing together leading minds to explore the relationship between science and religion across a wide range of topics.

In recent years, they’ve taken the event to the next level, transitioning from a traditional conference format to a hybrid event. This hybrid format combines in-person and virtual attendance, allowing participants to join and engage both on-site and remotely in real-time, and also allows guest speakers and panelists to be brought in remotely via the hybrid audio-visual technology.

The Institute first partnered with AV Xpert in 2022, and since then, we’ve worked closely together with the Faraday team to deliver a professional hybrid event for their flagship summer course each year. The goal has been to broaden their global reach, connect with a wider international audience, and ensure a high-quality, engaging experience for all attendees.

A Collaborative Approach

Every successful hybrid event begins with understanding the client’s vision. In the months leading up to the Summer Course, our dedicated account manager worked closely with the Faraday Institute to plan every detail - advising on technology options, responding to queries, and ensuring the setup would deliver on both their logistical and creative goals.

To lead the technical delivery, we assigned a senior AV technician who oversaw the entire on-site operation. From the moment the first case was unpacked, to the final breakdown after the closing session, our technical lead coordinated the team, managed all equipment, and monitored every live feed to ensure smooth, uninterrupted delivery throughout the week.

Designing the Technical Setup

For this year’s course, we deployed a bespoke hybrid conferencing setup centred around our Large Portable Production Station, an all-in-one system that combines advanced video and audio processing in a compact, mobile form. Equipped with a high-performance PC, multiple camera and laptop inputs, and several video outputs, it allowed us to distribute content simultaneously to in-room displays and online platforms with broadcast-quality precision.

Our technicians managed every aspect of the feed in real time, switching between camera angles, sharing presentation slides, and balancing audio levels to ensure a flawless experience for both audiences. This careful orchestration made it possible to blend in-person and remote elements into a single, cohesive event.

High-Quality Visuals and Crystal-Clear Audio

At the front of the event space, we installed a 65” 4K UHD commercial display to showcase custom content during presentations, ensuring in-person attendees had a crystal-clear view of slides. This worked in harmony with an existing venue display, expanding visibility for everyone in the room. Around the space, our technicians operated multiple 4K cameras, capturing every angle and integrating the feeds into the live online stream. This gave remote participants an immersive experience - almost as if they were sitting in the room themselves.

To complement the visuals, we delivered crisp, high-quality audio through a comprehensive microphone setup. Gooseneck microphones on the lectern ensured guest speakers were heard with clarity, while wireless handheld microphones roamed the room during Q&A sessions to capture every question and discussion. All audio sources were seamlessly mixed through our sound system, providing consistent, clear sound for both the onsite audience and online viewers worldwide.

The Result

As the final session ended on 4th July, it was clear the Faraday Summer Course 2025 had once again achieved something special. In lecture halls and living rooms alike, participants had shared in the same thought-provoking talks, asked questions in real time, and joined discussions that spanned both continents and cultures.

From the moment the first welcome was streamed, to the last round of applause at Lucy Cavendish College, the hybrid format worked seamlessly, bridging the gap between those in the room and those watching from thousands of miles away. The technology faded into the background, allowing the focus to remain on the speakers, the ideas, and the connections being made.

Alice Jackson from the Faraday Institute shared:

“AV Xpert has been such a helpful team. When you’re looking to invest time and money, you’re looking for professionalism, and from the very first meeting, through to running 3 consecutive years of courses, we’re so impressed with the professionalism and the way in which the team come with a helpful hand for all our needs.”

For us at AV Xpert, moments like these are why we do what we do. This marks our third year partnering with the Faraday Institute on their flagship course, and each year we’ve seen its reach grow, its conversations deepen, and its audience become more diverse.

Whether you are planning a small business gathering or a large-scale international conference, AV Xpert can deliver professional hybrid conferencing services tailored to your needs. Contact us today to explore how we can help you connect with your audience - wherever they are!