Scientific curiosity
Pupils launch nationwide campaign
Children from St Elizabeth’s Primary donned historical costumes to help launch a new nationwide educational initiative at the New Lanark World Heritage Site.
The Powered Up Initiative, run by National Museums Scotland and supported by the Scottishpower Foundation, will see youngsters from across Scotland offered the chance to learn about science in a range of new locations for the first time.
It aims to instil knowledge of the energy sector and encourage pupils to consider taking subjects that will lead to a Stem-related (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) career.
The Scottishpower Foundation’s executive officer and trustee Ann Mckechin (pictured) launched the initiative at New Lanark with kids from St. Elizabeth’s Primary.
She said: “The Scottishpower Foundation’s work with National Museums Scotland enables us to reach young people looking for advice on their career, helping to instil a passion for learning and hopefully a desire to enter into the STEM sector.
“The project will also help students living in some of Scotland’s harder-toreach communities access and be educated by some of the country’s most fascinating inventions and innovations.
“By engaging with young people through a visionary project such as this, we aim to ultimately create a nation of innovators and inventors.”
The Scottishpower Foundation, funded by the energy supplier, Scottishpower, is supporting the project with a grant of £150,000.
And the children from St Elizabeth’s had a great time looking around all that New Lanark has to offer, dressing up in period costumes for the venue’s historic classroom.
Around 5000 pupils and community group members are expected to directly benefit from the initiative over the coming year, which will fund things like science workshops.