Aberdeen Science Centre has secured new investment to help inspire scientists and engineers of the future thanks to Apache North Sea.
The oil and natural gas exploration and production company is sponsoring The Lab, a fully equipped science laboratory and classroom space for school pupils, community groups and visitors to the centre to learn more about science and try out hands-on experiments.
The sponsorship underlines Apache’s commitment to supporting Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) education and encouraging young people to choose these subjects as part of the energy expansion.
“It is vital that we continue to find avenues to encourage young children to develop a keen interest in STEM subjects,” said Jillian Owen, Apache’s U.K. country manager.
“Feeding this natural curiosity will help students build a foundation in STEM, and supporting projects like The Lab will inspire the next generation of innovators and leaders in our industry. The oil and gas industry will be here for many decades to come so it is essential that we, as an industry, work together to ensure we support the development of future talent.”
Through invaluable sponsorships, Aberdeen Science Centre will continue developing impactful science engagements to the North-east of Scotland and help to safeguard the legacy of Scotland’s oldest science centre.
Steph McCann, Aberdeen Science Centre’s fundraising manager, said: “We are extremely grateful to Apache for its very generous support for our lab, which is a well-used resource for STEM workshops, lessons and events. It allows visitors of all ages to take part in experiments and learn how science affects us all.
“As a registered charity, we rely on the revenue from admission fees and events or venue hire, sponsorship and grants to operate the centre. We are therefore delighted that Apache has become the first to sign up to our new range of opportunities for corporate supporters and we hope this will pave the way for others.
“The money will be reinvested into the centre to allow us to create new exhibits, bring in new workshops and events and widen our reach to attract new audiences, continue to go out into the community and engage and inspire even more children and adults in the fields of science, technology, engineering and maths,” she added.
Based on Constitution Street near Aberdeen beach, ASC is home to almost 65 interactive exhibits, allowing people of all ages to discover topics including Space, Energy, Life Sciences, Engineering, and much more.
Open seven days a week, the VisitScotland 5-star rated visitor attraction also offers exclusive venue hire as well as room hire for corporate, social and private events.
To book a visit to the centre or find out more about corporate support, visit https://aberdeensciencecentre.org/