MEMBER NEWS: Aberdeen Science Centre seeks to inspire the next generation of eco-explorers

May 30, 2024
MEMBER NEWS: Aberdeen Science Centre seeks to inspire the next generation of eco-explorers

Aberdeen Science Centre will be encouraging its visitors to discover more about the secret life of Aberdeen’s animals and plants as part of its latest theme.

The Neighbourhood Nature theme, which will begin on Saturday, 1 June, will introduce a variety of fun and family friendly activities, workshops and events that are focused on bees, trees, urban animals and marine life.

Visitors to Aberdeen Science Centre will be able to take part in the Brilliant Bees Show and interact with the Urban Animal Behaviour Activity Station on weekends and during the school holidays between June and August.

The Brilliant Bees Show includes a hands-on introduction into the world of bees, using equipment funded by the British Ecological Society. Visitors will learn about their anatomy, daily habits and pollination processes, as well as taking a look at the ins and outs of beekeeping.

A pop-up bee exhibit can also be found in the centre’s exhibition space which will feature information display boards, microscopes to bring pollen and bee specimens into focus and a fun Pollen Power game.

The Urban Animal Behaviour Activity Station will feature a range of interactive activities that encourage visitors to analyse changes in animal behaviours when living in man-made environments compared to natural settings. The station, which is funded by the Association for Study of Animal Behaviour, will explore animals’ various habitats, food sources and camouflage abilities.

Throughout July and August, the centre will also host a Tree-Mendous Workshop funded by the SafeDeposits Scotland Community Fund. The workshop is designed to take participants through the process of identifying different tree species, working out a tree’s age by counting rings, and exploring the many uses for trees.

The SafeDeposits Scotland Community Fund provides grant funding to projects that can enhance local communities across the length and breadth of Scotland.

Younger visitors to Aberdeen Science Centre can enjoy interactive story sessions, centred around bees and the life cycle of trees, alongside a range of fun games and crafts.

Calli Buchanan, public programme coordinator at Aberdeen Science Centre, said: “We are buzzing with excitement for our visitors to experience our Neighbourhood Nature theme this summer. Thanks to the generous support from our partners, we have a fantastic variety of inspiring and engaging exhibits, workshops and shows on offer that will allow family members of all ages to discover more about the plants and wildlife that can be found all around them.

“From investigating the brilliant lives of bees to discovering how animals adapt to survive in urban environments, we will truly have something for everyone as we seek to unleash the power of curiosity and bring learning to life in our centre.”

Later in the summer, Aberdeen Science Centre will also host a Marine Discovery Day, funded by the Scottish Fishermen’s Trust and Aberdeen City Council’s Festival of the Seas. Visitors will dive into the fascinating world of marine biology through a special marine-themed workshop and get hands-on with sea creatures with touch pools from MacDuff Marine Aquarium.

They can then visit the Aberdeen beach to take part in wildlife identification and sample collection, among other activities.

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 and room hire for corporate, social and private events, alongside corporate sponsorship opportunities.

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.

To book a visit to the centre or find out more about corporate support, visit https://aberdeensciencecentre.org/ 

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The enthusiasm and dedication of the early group that would become AREG was fundamental in us choosing to launch All-Energy in Aberdeen. The first tiny show was held in 2001, and AREG’s Chairman at the time, Jeremy Cresswell, played such an active role that I often describe him in terms such as All-Energy’s ‘midwife’. All-Energy is now the UK’s largest renewable and low carbon energy exhibition and conference in terms of number of attendees, space booked, and number of exhibiting companies. As AREG became firmly established, their presence and support for the event grew spectacularly over the years. We thank them most sincerely for their invaluable input.

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Aberdeen City and Shire is emerging as a key location for renewables by successfully transferring its world-class oil and gas expertise into the sector and AREG has done much to advance this through a broad range of initiatives. It has acted as a catalyst in driving further investment in the local economy by engaging with companies, Government, public bodies and existing projects and we have been pleased to support their efforts. Scottish Enterprise will continue to engage with AREG as we increase Scotland’s use of renewable energy.

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