Summer of STEM at Aberdeen Science Centre
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Aberdeen Science Centre is to launch its brand new Summer of STEM programme this week, with fun experiments and activities including making a catapult, kitchen chemistry and virtual chats with NASA engineers.
The digital programme will kick off on Friday, July 10 and will continue online over the summer holidays, with an exciting new topic every week.
Families are being encouraged to share photos and videos of their attempts, with the chance to win a family STEM Passport for free entry to the new-look Aberdeen Science Centre for a year.
Summer of STEM will begin with a video session on castles and catapults.
Science fans can learn about castles in and around Aberdeenshire, followed by a lesson on how to make your own catapults using popsicle sticks, spoons and elastic bands.
Other sessions will include kitchen chemistry, using equipment and ingredients you can find around the house, and floating and sinking, which will test the buoyancy of everyday items to discover whether they float or sink.
Families will also have the chance to try out a variety of coding activities at home then use their new skills to have a go Equinor’s online coding game.
Aberdeen Science Centre will also share a series of NASA interviews on its Facebook page, including a chat with NASA engineer, Heather Paul, who spoke exclusively to ASC and TechFest about her career and interest in STEM subjects.
Elaine Holland, head of operations at the centre, said: “As the school summer holidays are now underway, we are launching the Summer of STEM programme on our Facebook page this week.
“This will be a variety of STEM videos with activities that can be completed at home.
"Our team of science communicators will explain the experiment and ask families to get involved and share their photos and videos!
"We’ll then post our own results of the experiment later in the week.
“Everyone who posts or engages with us will be entered into a prize draw to win 12 months of free entry to Aberdeen Science Centre, when we open later this year, so we hope to see lots of videos and photos of your efforts at home!”
Aberdeen Science Centre is currently undergoing a £6million refurbishment at its base at the Tramsheds on Constitution Street, where the last stages of work are due to restart this week after being paused during lockdown.
The revitalised centre will include more than 60 new interactive exhibits, including the OPITO Theatre of Energy.
For more information on Aberdeen Science Centre, visit www.aberdeenscience.org or follow the Facebook page at @aberdeensciencecentre
