The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Centre’ s appliance of science on path through pandemic
As the country went into lockdown and we were ordered to stay at home, Dundee Science Centre had to reach out and teach children science in a new way.
The Greenmarket visitor attraction aims to provide a hands-on learning experience, bringing science to life.
But with its doors closed and 75% of staff on furlough, hosting groups in the centre was not an option.
Head of business and operations Lorraine Lemon was in total shock.
She recalls: “We are a hands-on visitor attraction, so how do we change that?
“Within literally seven days of us shutting the doors, we had an online programme on offer.”
Every week, a new topic with different activities – from forensics week to weather week – was uploaded on the website.
In March 2020, thinking lockdown might last only a few weeks, Lorraine and the team focused on the home learning programme.
Once it became clear Covid-19 would stick around, the science centre began to look at what else it could do.
Reaching out to struggling local families also became a priority.
After donating all its coffee shop stock to foodbanks, the centre was approached by the Dundee Fairness Commission to help children engage with learning. Lorraine says: “There was a real issue with some of our community not being able to engage with learning because of issues with having devices and access to the internet.
“Despite the fact that we created the online programme, a lot of our audience couldn’t interact with it. They didn’t have the means to.
“We came up with science-at-home kits to address some of the issues we experienced.”
Community workers helped the centre identify who was in need of boxes and the kit went out with food bags. For every school holiday, the science centre would pack new science-athome kits.
Lorraine says: “We use the local authority system for referrals, so they go to those who need it most.”
When the centre was able to reopen, it wanted to give children in the community a more hands-on experience.
During the 2021 summer holidays, it started a STEM club, where each week 20 primary school children got to do experiments and activities. Another STEM club went ahead for the October school holidays.
The science centre underwent a £2.1 million refurbishment last year and although it closed temporarily in January, it has now reopened.
As Covid has reduced capacity in the centre, there are now timed tickets.