Member News: Astronomer Royal for Scotland appointed as first patron of Aberdeen Science Centre

August 21, 2026
Member News: Astronomer Royal for Scotland appointed as first patron of Aberdeen Science Centre

Professor Catherine Heymans will help to increase the centre’s impact

Aberdeen Science Centre has appointed The Astronomer Royal for Scotland, Professor Catherine Heymans, as its first Patron of Science and Engagement. An astrophysicist from the University of Edinburgh and a world-leading expert on the physics of the dark universe, Professor Heymans was the first woman to be named Astronomer Royal for Scotland, a 200-year-old honorary role. Her new role at Aberdeen Science Centre will see her focusing on science and engagement, using her network and expertise to help the centre to raise its profile and maximise the impact of its work. Professor Heymans has played a key role in the centre’s history, having officially reopened the venue in 2021 following its major £6million redevelopment. She said she was honoured to accept the voluntary role.

“I was honoured to be invited to be the first Patron of Science and Engagement at Aberdeen Science Centre and am looking forward to working with the team to encourage and inspire visitors to develop a deep passion for science,” she said.

“I was hugely impressed by the centre when I visited for the reopening. It is a fantastic asset for the advancement of STEM education, not just in Aberdeen but in Scotland as a whole.

“Having spent my career working in astrophysics I am very pleased to have the opportunity to share my love for science with a wide audience while promoting the important work of Aberdeen Science Centre.”

Professor Heymans is also the Director of the German Centre for Cosmological Lensing at the Ruhr-University Bochum, Germany.

Bryan Snelling, chief executive of Aberdeen Science Centre, said her appointment would help to inspire a new audience.

“We are incredibly proud to have Professor Heymans on board as our very first Patron, with a particular focus on science and engagement. She brings tremendous credibility, inspiration and advocacy to the role, helping us continue to inspire curiosity and a lifelong interest in science across the North-east and beyond.

“As we continue to develop as a visitor attraction and centre for STEM education, we will be recruiting other patrons to help us reach our ambitious targets for growth and engagement with audiences of all ages and backgrounds.”

More than 60 new interactive exhibits over two floors await visitors to the centre, including RoboThespian, a chatty humanoid robot sponsored by the centre’s long-term Digital Futures Partner, Equinor, and The OPITO Theatre of Energy – the UK’s first immersive experience of its kind.

The centre’s exhibits are aimed at all ages and are themed into six zones: Energy; Space; Life Sciences; Make It, Test It; and a dedicated area for the under-6s, as well as the Shell Learning Zone, where science, technology, engineering and mathematics are brought to life.

They support ASC’s commitment to inspire a lifelong interest in science, by creating engaging experiences which are fun, informative and educational.

For more information and to book a visit, go to www.aberdeensciencecentre.org

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