Aberdeen Science Centre will encourage its visitors to get hands-on with renewable energy technologies during its upcoming Offshore Wind 4 Kids workshops.
From September 2 to 13, Aberdeen Science Centre will host close to 500 school pupils from Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire for a series of offshore wind focused sessions, alongside a free public open day for families to enjoy on Saturday, September 7.
Following on from two previous Offshore Wind 4 Kids fortnights held at Aberdeen Science Centre, Bryan Snelling, chief executive officer at the centre, reflected on the success of the initiative in allowing children and parents to get first-hand experience with technologies that will help the UK reach net zero targets.
He said: “Aberdeen has a rich history as a global energy hub and as the city diversifies further into renewable energy technologies, we are excited to see that legacy continue. We hope that the Offshore Wind 4 Kids sessions help our visitors to understand the importance of that heritage and of the necessity to introduce new renewable energy technologies, not just in Aberdeen, but across the globe.
“Through the returning workshops, we want to inspire the world’s future engineers, technicians and innovators who will help us reach net zero emissions as fast as possible. We are excited to once again welcome hundreds of school pupils through our doors in September, in addition to families during our upcoming free day, to engage with model wind turbines and explore how they work.”
During the Offshore Wind 4 Kids schools sessions and public open day, which are sponsored by My Energy Future, powered by OPITO, visitors to the centre will take part in workshops in the centre’s outdoor garden area.
They will discover more about how floating offshore wind turbines create energy and how different bases allow them to stay afloat on the water.
This will be followed by making and testing their own model floating wind turbines in the centre’s outdoor water tank.
On the exhibition floor, visitors will enjoy a drop-in activity station where they can build and take apart wind turbine kits to discover more about the inner workings of turbines.
The OPITO Theatre of Energy - Aberdeen Science Centre’s immersive theatre experience offering three different interactive energy-themed activities - will also be available for the public on the open day.
Bryan continued: “We are relaunching our Offshore Wind 4 Kids activities at an opportune time for Aberdeen, with Scottish Renewables and RenewableUK’s Floating Offshore Wind conference only a short time away, meaning that wind power will be close to the forefront of people’s minds in the weeks to come.
“We also look forward to hosting these sessions close to the start of the new school year, as we welcome budding engineers and problem solvers to join us in the centre to explore one of the most exciting areas of the renewable energy industry and hopefully spark the idea of a career in the sector along the way.”
Faye Sherriffs, senior vice president of strategic partnerships at OPITO, said: “By 2030, 65% of our offshore jobs will be in low-carbon energy including offshore wind, hydrogen, and carbon capture. These workshops at Aberdeen Science Centre are a fantastic way to spread the message to young people that, with a career in energy, you can play a leading role in climate action.
“At OPITO, we believe this is an inspiring incentive and we are committed to capturing interest at a young age and sustaining it. Educating this new generation in the science, technology, engineering, and maths (STEM) disciplines, and supporting the school curriculum with these kinds of activities, is key to encourage young people to consider a career in technical areas as well as in all the other amazing roles we have within the energy sector. That’s why we invest heavily in STEM activities all underpinned by our interactive My Energy Future Hub created to inspire and inform the next generation about careers in the industry. We are delighted to support this initiative which offers a fun and hands-on way to learn about the energy system of the future.”
Admission for the open day is available for walk-in visitors only, while the schools' activities are now fully subscribed.
The outdoor wind turbine workshops will run four times throughout the day on Saturday, September 7, with admission subject to availability.
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.
For more information, visit https://aberdeensciencecentre.org/