Festivals across Scotland share £239,000.
Experiments and scientific demonstrations will be hosted at 16 festivals thanks to Scottish Government funding, the Science Minister has announced.
Minister for Science Alasdair Allan announced £239,000 to fund a programme of activities for all ages at events across the country.
Popular themes explored in this year’s science festivals include events marking the achievements of renowned Scottish physicist James Clerk Maxwell’s and using our food and drink industry to look at issues around sustainability and climate change.
The United Nations has named 2015 as the International Year of Light with the date being chosen as it is the 150th anniversary of Clerk Maxwell’s pioneering theory of classical electromagnetism
The festivals taking place this year include:
- Orkney International Science Festival
- Caithness International Science Festival
- Inverness Science Festival
- Moray Science Festival
- Oban Festival of the Sea
- TechFest (Aberdeen/NE Scotland)
- Dundee Science Festival
- Fife Science Festival
- Strathearn Science Festival
- Edinburgh International Science Festival
- Midlothian Science Festival
- Dunbar Science Festival
- Glasgow Science Festival
- Dumfries and Galloway Science Festival
- Ayrshire Engineering and Science Festival
- Middle of Scotland Science Festival
Dr Allan said:
“Our science festivals’ programme is really exciting, with something on offer for everyone. We are the only country in the UK to support science festivals nationally, and each year these events reach more than 200,000 people, demonstrating a real appetite for seeing science in action in our communities.
“Scotland is a leading science nation with research making a significant contribution to our economy. Our legacy of revolutionary discoveries and globally celebrated scientists are an inspiration to the next generation and festival events are a vital addition to the way we promote science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) studies in school.
“As we celebrate both the Year of Food and Drink and the UN’s Year of Light our £239,000 investment will support 16 festivals over the next 12 months. These activities are making science more accessible to a broader public audience all across the country and we want to see even more people have the chance to have the opportunity to enjoy events near them.”
