The UK government’s Inspiring Science Fund will give £13 million to six science centres in Scotland, Wales and England.
The funding is part of the part of the Government’s modern Industrial Strategy.
Funding will go to
- Catalyst in Widnes – £754,600
- Dundee Science Centre – £1.5 million
- Eureka! Mersey – £3 million
- Glasgow Science Centre – £2.88 million
- The National Space Centre in Leicester – £1.88 million
- Techniquest in Cardiff – £3 million
The centres were chosen because of their plans to connect with audiences who would not traditionally visit science centres or engage with studying STEM subjects (science, technology, engineering and mathematics).
The Inspiring Science Fund, who will deliver the funds, is a joint initiative by Wellcome and also the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.
Science Minister Sam Gyimah said: “We want to bring the wonders of science to as wide an audience as possible and that’s why it is at the heart of our modern Industrial Strategy. Today’s investment will help inspire people from across the country to learn about the truly amazing benefits that science and technology has on all our lives.”
Investment will fund “transformation”
One centre that will benefit from the funding is the Eureka! Mersey museum, a planned children’s museum on the Wirral waterfront.
Leigh-Anne Stradeski, Chief Executive of Eureka!, said: “I am absolutely delighted by this news. We are moving closer and closer to bringing Eureka! to the Wirral waterfront and truly believe it will transform the lives of local children and young people.”
The Glasgow Science Centre are also celebrating their £2.88 million investment, the largest they’ve had since opening. In a statement, the museum said: “we’ll be transforming the outside of the building, as well as improving our existing facilities and exhibition spaces. We’re also looking to develop our very own community based learning programme.”
“With this, the biggest single investment we’ve had since opening, we’re looking to introduce a whole host of new experiences to make us more accessible for everyone and we hope that we’ll really cement our place in Glasgow as a community hub.”
The museum will develop new facilities, including an Explore gallery (see main image).
Images courtesy Eureka! Mersey and Glasgow Science Centre
