SCIENCE festivals and stem initiatives across Scotland have benefited from £320,000 of investment from the Scottish Government.
Programmes aiming to promote the benefits of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) among school pupils are set to receive funding to help develop Scotland’s workforce.
National STEM programmes Generation Science and the Young Engineers and Science Clubs will be granted £100,00.
More than 100,000 pupils have benefitted from both initiatives.
Minister for youth employment and training Jamie Hepburn said: “We are working hard to ensure we maximise the number of people highly educated and skilled in STEM to adapt to the challenges of today and in the future.
“These initiatives can help inspire a generation of scientists, engineers, mathematicians and innovators, and develop the talent which will be required in our future workforce.” Further funding will be given to supporting science festivals including those taking place in Edinburgh, Glasgow and Stirling.
It aims to support the Scottish Government’s STEM Education and Training Strategy and the commitment to equip communities and young people, particularly those from remote and deprived areas, with STEM skills.
It is hoped this can help tackle climate change and health related issues.
Hepburn added: “We saw the critical role that STEM knowledge played in tackling the Covid pandemic through the rollout of vaccines, which have saved countless numbers of lives.
“We will build on that work to ensure Scotland has the tools required to guide the country to a net zero future.
“The continuation of this funding is a big step to helping make our vision for a greener and fairer Scotland a reality.”
