Science engagement
We are funding opportunities for the public to engage with science, with the aim of encouraging more people to study and pursue careers in the field.
This will help to strengthen Scotland's research and development base in science, technology and engineering.
In 2024 and 2025, we put £3.025 million into delivering public science engagement experiences to more than one million people.
In 2025 and 2026, we have provided £3.025 million funding to support the delivery of public science engagement experiences to more than one million people.
Science centres
We give the majority of public science engagement funding (£2.67 million between 2025 and 2026) to Scotland's science centres, which aim to encourage people of all ages to engage with science by presenting it in a fun, inspiring and educational way.
Scotland's science centres are visited by more than 670,000 people, both locals and tourists, every year. There is one in each of Scotland's four largest cities:
Science festivals
We provide funding for science festivals to make science accessible to a wider Scottish audience, with a particular focus on strengthening young people's interest and knowledge in science. They provide an annual and local focus for activities and events, often in cities or towns that don't have a science centre of their own.
Scotland's science festivals typically include:
- a schools programme for primary and secondary schools
- public events, such as topical debates or talks by well-known scientists
- family activities allowing children and parents to learn about science together
Between 2025 and 2026, we are providing up to £220,000 of funding to support science festivals across Scotland deliver science engagement activities for a public and schools audience of 260,000.
Supporting the curriculum
Between 2025 and 2026, a total of £100,000 of science engagement funding will be awarded to two Scotland-wide initiatives that deliver science shows and workshops into schools to support Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) education.
- £55,000 for the Generation Science shows for primary schools, run by Edinburgh Science
- £45,000 for Stemovators at primary and secondary schools, run by the Prosper