Science Engagement
The Scottish Government supports informal science engagement through the funding programmes and activities of the Office of the Chief Scientific Adviser.
Scottish Science Centres
The four Scottish Science Centres are:
- Satrosphere Science Centre, Aberdeen
- Sensation, Dundee
- Our Dynamic Earth, Edinburgh
- Glasgow Science Centre
In return for funding, government expects the centres to offer high quality science engagement experiences to educational (school and college) and other (adults, family groups etc.) visitors.
Royal Society of Edinburgh (RSE)
The Scottish Government provides support to the RSE to deliver a range of programmes including research fellowships, arts and humanities awards, and international grants and relations. Some of these (adults and young people's programmes) are to do with science engagement and informal education.
Small Grants Programme
The Scottish Government provides funding competitively through a Science Engagement Grant Scheme run by the Office of the Chief Scientific Adviser. Supported projects may complement and enhance the school curriculum and take science engagement activities (touring shows, science festivals etc) into communities across Scotland.
Collaboration is a key theme and many of the funded projects involve partnerships with several organisations to prevent duplication, share best practice and ensure good value for money. Find out more in the Small Grants Programme section.
Scottish Science Festivals
Science festivals can provide a focus for science-related events and activities, particularly in areas that do not have a local science centre. Funding is available for a number of new and established science festivals across Scotland, to provide stability for these events and to help ensure they are able to provide high-qualitry activities for a wide audience.