Cutting Edge News
The Future Generation of Science

Generation Science, the Edinburgh International Science Festival’s national touring schools programme, currently delivers over 1,400 shows across more than 600 primary schools in Scotland and reaches more than 55,000 school pupils annually.

Over the next three years Generation Science will;

• Develop a range of activities designed specifically for lower secondary 11-14 year olds, to keep them interested and motivated in science subjects and encourage them to opt-in to future learning.
• Expand its work in health and wellbeing using the successful model created for Live for It! A touring workshop created in 2011 in partnership with Diabetes UK Scotland to encourage healthy lifestyles in young people, and contribute towards making Scotland a healthier nation.
• Trial and develop Continuous Professional Development (CPD) modules and activities for delivery to primary school teachers, through partnership working with organisations such as SSERC.

Simon Gage, Director of the Edinburgh International Science Festival said:

“‘The way we tour science workshops and shows to schools makes perfect sense: the events are mobile reaching every corner of the country, they’re high quality with great staff and they’re really cost effective.

Today we launch a new phase in our schools work with the announcement of three new initiatives: 1. We will start touring to secondary schools with events that give S1 and S2 pupils a glimpse of the rewarding opportunities that await those that keep studying science, 2. We will expand our work with healthcare bodies including the NHS to encourage young people to live healthier lives by giving them a better understanding of how their bodies work and 3. With partners we will start to run training courses for primary school teachers to help them teach the bits they find hard.

 These new initiatives will, within two years, reach many thousands of young people and teachers.’

Professor Muffy Calder, Chief Scientific Adviser for Scotland said:

“Science, technology, engineering and maths can open many doors for our young people. Making sense of the science and maths taught in the classroom is vital in allowing them to explore the world aroud them. Generation Science shows and workshops encourage hands-on participation and bring science to life, helping to improve young people’s knowledge and linking it to the real world, outside school.”

Professor Jack Jackson, HM Inspectorate of Education said:

“Generation Science’s workshops and shows inspire children in primary schools right across Scotland with a wide range of science and technologies. Their schools programme not only supports learning and teaching for children and professional teaching staff, but makes a real contribution to securing further and higher education opportunities for the next generation. Longer term it is programmes like Generation Science that spark an interest in science among children from an early age and, in turn, creates Scotland’s scientists and technologists of the future."