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Critters to crawl into homes as part of TechFest 2020


By Kirsty Brown

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The Critter Keeper and his collection of exotic animals will be on hand to entertain and educate audiences from a safe distance at this year’s TechFest

Critters can creep and crawl directly into your homes this weekend and next, as part of this year’s virtual TechFest festival of STEM.

The North-east’s resident Dr Doolittle David Low and his Critter Crew are hosting two virtual sessions where participants can learn fun and exciting facts about amazing animals from around the world.

The Critter Keeper will join the festival, which has moved online for the first time, across two virtual sessions on Sundays November 8 and 15.

With the largest selection of exotic animals in the north-east of Scotland, ranging from snakes, lizards and creepy crawlies to a fluffy rabbit and the only raccoon in the local area, the Critter Keeper and his Critter Crew of more than 80 creatures will present live animal demonstrations that will amaze viewers.

Booking is open now for The Critter Keeper’s exotic animal workshop, which forms part of the TechFest Goes Digital public programme.

Critter Keeper David Low.
Critter Keeper David Low.

The Critter Keeper, David Low said: “I’ve been caring for exotic animals for over 21 years and have developed a huge passion for them.

"Unfortunately many people fear, or don’t like, some of the animals that I have in my care, like snakes and spiders.

"I do what I do to help people understand these animals aren’t scary and have an important part to play on our planet and the ecosystem, just as much as the cute and fluffy ones!

“Hopefully, by offering audiences the opportunity to get up close and personal with my collection of animals – with the added security of being online and a ‘safe distance’ away – it will help to overcome some fears as well as educate and impassion others.”

The annual festival is aiming to be the biggest and most ambitious digital science festival in Scotland this year.

With an exciting and eclectic mix of more than 30 events taking place over a three-week period, the festival will have two main strands - the traditional public programme and a programme for schools.

The celebration of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) usually runs for three weeks in September, with events taking place in venues across Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire.

This year, rather than cancel the festival, organisers not only decided to go ahead with a 2020 event but to make it wider ranging than ever before.

The mix will include both live and pre-recorded events delivered via Zoom, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube and through interactive activities.

A schools programme will bring science-based activities directly into the classroom with a variety of activities, video conferences, talks, and virtual events with partners including Edinburgh Zoo, the RAF and the Red Cross in collaboration with Skills Development Scotland TechFest’s new programme collaborator.

The highly popular family days will also return in digital format, jam packed with fun and STEM-inspired activities which the whole family can enjoy.

Admission to all events is free, and The Critter Keeper’s exotic animal workshop begins at 11am on November 8 and 15.

For more information and to book, you can visit the TechFest website at: www.techfestsetpoint.org.uk/


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