Hyslop Announces Science Grants At International Festival

26th March 2008

Thirty-six science projects across Scotland are to receive funding through the Science Engagement scheme, Education Secretary Fiona Hyslop announced today.

The Cabinet Secretary made the announcement as she visited the Wonderama children and families science engagement event at the Edinburgh International Science Festival.

The small grants scheme will see a variety of projects receive a share of the #615,000 funding boost, among them the Edinburgh International Science Festival itself.

Ms Hyslop said: "I am delighted to be visiting the Edinburgh International Science
Festival and in particular the Wonderama project which encourages children and their parents to take part in science activities.

"I am also pleased to announce funding for the EIS festival as well as funding for 36 science projects which aim to engage people - particularly our young people - with science. These science engagement activities should reach 300,000 pupils.

"Preparing our young people to actively participate in a global society requires a range of knowledge and skills and science has an extremely important role to play in that. We want to ensure that our children grow up with a knowledge and understanding of the world and Scotland's place in it. The "window on the world" which science and technology provides will help us to achieve this.

"I am keen to encourage more young people to engage with science and these grants which help support fun and educational events like the International Science Festival, have a crucial role to play. It is also important we encourage youngsters pursue science subjects at school and we plan to introduce a Scottish science baccalaureate to help us achieve this."

Scotland's Chief Scientific Adviser, Professor Anne Glover said: "We are supporting Wonderama and science events like it all over Scotland. These events are inspiring our future scientists and engaging with the public on exciting and topical science issues. Science is all around us for everyone to enjoy."

To see the list of projects and the amounts awarded go to
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Releases/2008/03/26114449/science