Aberdeen Science Centre awarded emergency funding

ABERDEEN Science Centre is to benefit from a share of £2 million in emergency funding to help weather the effects of the coronavirus pandemic.

The Scottish Government announced the package for Scotland’s four science centres.

The money is on top of annual funding of £2.67 million, and means they will be able to start to re-open in the autumn, with safeguards in place to protect visitors.

Aberdeen Science Centre is set to reopen at its Tramsheds base, in Constitution Street, after undergoing a multi-million pound refurbishment.

Bryan Snelling, ASC chief executive, today welcomed the announcement.

He said: “I am very pleased that the Scottish Government has recognised the value and importance of the Scottish science centres by providing this additional funding.

“Covid-19 has hit us all particularly hard but we can now look forward to opening the newly refurbished Aberdeen Science Centre at Constitution Street in the Autumn, confident in the knowledge that we will have a share of this financial support.

“This will allow us to continue to deliver the STEM learning opportunities in the centre, in schools, online and in communities across Aberdeen City, Aberdeenshire and the North of Scotland.”

Glasgow Science Centre, Dynamic Earth in Edinburgh, Dundee Science Centre, and Aberdeen Science Centre collectively attract around 700,000 visitors and engage with a total of 1.5 million people of all ages annually.

Richard Lochhead, Science minister, said: “Science, technology, engineering and maths impact our everyday lives and this has never been more relevant than in the current global pandemic.

“The huge contributions of Scotland’s STEM-related research and industry have being highlighted nationally and internationally throughout the COVID-19 crisis.

“This extra money puts our science centres in a stronger position to continue to showcase Scottish research and industry excellence in STEM, inspiring our young people and supporting their learning, while helping Scotland realise its ambitions as a science and innovation nation.”