The redevelopment of Aberdeen Science Centre has been bolstered by a share of a Scottish Government handout aimed at helping it weather the coronavirus storm.
The centre, due to reopen at its refurbished home in Constitution Street this autumn, is sharing a £2 million pot of emergency funding, split with science centres in, Dundee, Glasgow and Edinburgh’s Dynamic Earth.
Aberdeen Science Centre’s chief executive officer, Bryan Snelling, said the grant will be a welcome lifeline for the centre, which closed the doors of its temporary home at 107 George Street in March.
He said: “I am very pleased 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 we will have a share of this financial support.
“This will allow us to continue to deliver the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) learning opportunities in the centre, in schools, online and in communities across Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire and the north of Scotland.”
The centre, originally called Satrosphere, opened in Justice Mill Lane in 1988 and moved to The Tramsheds on Constitution Street in 2001.
For the past 18 months, it has been based in George Street, while a £4.7 million refurbishment at The Tramsheds is carried out.
Holyrood’s science minister Richard Lochhead added: “Our science centres are a valuable national asset and, even though they are currently closed to visitors, they have continued to deliver STEM learning opportunities through the creative and innovative use of online learning.
“From daily online videos and weekly themed home-learning programmes to stay-at-home science and STEM care packages, they have been providing valuable resources to support parents, teachers and young people during the school closures.
“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, inspire our young people and support their learning, while helping Scotland realise its ambitions as a science and innovation nation.”
