UK Science Centres to promote learning in Science, Tech, Engineering and Mathematics

These Centres will all receive new funding after presenting exciting plans to connect with audiences and communities who don’t currently visit science centers or engage with learning in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).

6 Science Centres across the UK today received a £13 million injection of funding to help attract thousands of new visitors:

Catalyst in WidnesDundee Science CentreEureka! MerseyGlasgow Science CentreThe National Space Centre in LeicesterTechniquest in CardiffThese Centres will all receive new funding after presenting exciting plans to connect with audiences and communities who don't currently visit science centers or engage with learning in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).

The funding will help each center create new learning activities to help reach audiences, improve their facilities and develop sustainable business models.

The new funding will be delivered through the Inspiring Science Fund, a joint initiative by Wellcome and the Department for Business, Energy, and Industrial Strategy. The Inspiring Science Fund aims to support under-served and underrepresented audiences, delivering science learning and engagement opportunities that are accessible to all through Science Centres around the country.

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."Simon Chaplin, Director of Culture & Society, Wellcome, said:

"At Wellcome we focus on people, and our public engagement activity is about helping everyone to play their own role in improving health. The Inspiring Science Fund enables science centres across the country to bring science, health and research closer to public. We're looking forward to seeing how the successful centres develop and how they use this funding to involve ever more people in science in a way that is relevant and useful to their own lives."