A huge Wirral science attraction has finally confirmed its opening date.
Eureka! Science + Discovery will be opening in Seacombe later this year. The museum is dedicated to raising aspirations of children and young people across the North West.
The building at the Seacombe Ferry Terminal in Wallasey used to be Spaceport but it closed its doors for good at the end of 2019 following a report that said visitor numbers to Spaceport had dropped by thousands. Now, after a huge refurbishment the venue is set to reopen at Eureka! Science + Discovery on Friday, November 11.
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With exciting and interactive exhibits including a 12-foot-tall cat complete with swishing tail and a giant climbing tree, the attraction will include hands-on learning experiences linked to key themes that run through our daily lives. The Science + Discovery centre will help kids up to the age of 14 to explore STEAM (Science, Technology, Education, Arts and Mathematics) subjects and uncover new and exciting career aspirations.
Eureka! Science + Discovery features zones exploring the wonderful uniqueness of our Bodies, all the things that are part of the fabric and spaces of our Homes, and Nature where questions ranging from the smallest critters to the big questions around climate action are explored. There is also Make Create, a space where imagination and innovation come together to allow visitors to tinker and create.
A phase two opening of the Discovery Café and a dedicated exhibition area for the younger visitors, The Burrow will be launched after Christmas. The attraction is set to welcome more than 187,000 visitors, create approximately 160 full and part time roles and deliver a projected £12m to the local economy by 2032.
Eureka! Science + Discovery is the first expansion of the brand anywhere else in the UK and has been earmarked as an important element of the Liverpool City Region’s inclusive growth and education ambitions. The new £11.4m visitor attraction has received funding from both public and private sector donations, including £6.4m from Mayor Steve Rotheram and the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority’s Strategic Investment Fund, and a £3m investment from the Wellcome Trust/UKRIs ‘Inspiring Science Fund’.
Leigh-Anne Stradeski, who has been CEO of Eureka! since 2000, said: “Eureka! has long held an ambition to open a second attraction to engage with a wider audience in the North West, and the opportunity in Wirral presented the perfect combination of a supportive regional combined authority and local council, a brilliant local community and a ready made iconic setting”.
Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, Steve Rotheram said: “Our area has established itself as an international tourist destination for a reason: because we offer our visitors an experience unlike anywhere else in the country. Eureka!'s arrival will bring another fascinating new addition to our offer.
"What was a tired and underused space will be replaced by a fresh, interesting, and interactive new attraction for all the family, thanks in part to £6.4m of funding from the Combined Authority. It is just a part of our wider plans to revitalise Birkenhead and the Left Bank area.
"As someone who is passionate about skills and technical subjects, I’m delighted to see that Eureka! Science + Discovery will be putting a special emphasis on STEAM subjects, introducing our region’s young people to topics like life sciences, digital innovation and green technology in a fun and refreshing way.
“We want to inspire our youngsters, especially young women, to explore the opportunities out there for them and help to address some of the gender imbalances that exist in these sectors, and I can think of no place better for them to start that journey than here in the Liverpool City Region. With some of the world's leading clusters of innovation in science, technology and AI right on our doorstep, our area is a natural fit. Who knows how many engineers and scientists of the future might be inspired by their visits?”
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