Science festivals, events and centres

Here is a list of websites giving details of some of the science-related events, festivals, centres and visitor attractions in Scotland.

Events

• 2010 International Year of Biodiversity The United Nations has declared 2010 as the International Year of Biodiversity. It is a celebration of life on earth and of the value of biodiversity for our lives. The world is invited to take action in 2010 to safeguard the variety of life on earth: biodiversity. There is a whole programme of events and activities on the website.

Science festivals

• Edinburgh International Science Festival

  Takes place annually in April. Find out more on the Edinburgh International Science Festival website.

• Orkney International Science Festival

  Takes place annually in September. Contact science@orkney.org for more information, or find them on on Facebook at Orkney International Science Festival and get Festival updates on Twitter on @OrkSciFest.

• TechFest

  The only annual science and technology festival staged in the north-east of Scotland that is open to children and adults of all ages. It aims to promote science, technology, engineering and mathematics. The festival has a public programme, a primary schools programme, and secondary schools programme. For more information or to receive updates contact TechFest-SetPoint.

Scientific centres and visitor attractions

• Deep Sea World (North Queensferry)

  The underwater tunnel alone makes this well worth a visit. The website doesn't contain much information, though - and some of it is quite out of date.
  www.deepseaworld.com

• Edinburgh Butterfly and Insect World

  www.edinburgh-butterfly-world.co.uk

• Edinburgh Zoo

  www.edinburghzoo.org.uk

• Glasgow Science Centre

  Owing to problems with the opening of this attraction it would be advisable to telephone ahead of your visit (0141-420 5000) for the latest information on opening dates and hours.
  www.gsc.org.uk

• National Museums of Scotland (Edinburgh)

  Sometimes the opening of new high-profile science centres make us forget that there have been interactive, hands-on science centres available to us for a long time. The National Museums of Scotland continue to offer a wide range of interesting things to see and do.
  www.nms.ac.uk

• Natural History Centre

  Using the Cruickshank Botanic Garden, Zoology Museum and a hands-on activity classroom, this environmental education centre at the University of Aberdeen aims to interest everyone in our living world.
  www.abdn.ac.uk/nhc/

• Our Dynamic Earth (Edinburgh)

  Tells the story of our planet in approximately 90 minutes!
  www.dynamicearth.co.uk

• Royal Botanic Garden (Edinburgh)

  This site gives information on the Royal Botanic Garden and some of the other botanic gardens in Scotland.
  www.rbge.org.uk

• Royal Observatory Visitor Centre (Edinburgh)

  Housed in an 1894 Observatory, this centre contains several exhibition areas, two telescopes and a gift shop.
  www.roe.ac.uk/vc/

• Satrosphere (Aberdeen)

  Aberdeen's hands-on discovery centre.
  www.satrosphere.net

• National Museum of Science and Industry (London)

  Although this museum is based in London, their website, giving access to online exhibitions and a host of other information, allows this to be included here.
  www.nmsi.ac.uk

• Scotland's Secret Bunker ('somewhere' near St Andrews)

  During the Cold War this bunker served as a communications centre and was intended to house Scotland's senior ministers and other key personnel in the event of a nuclear strike. A public visitor attraction since 1994, the bunker now serves as a sinister reminder of recent history. The site includes a map.
  www.secretbunker.co.uk

• Sensation (Dundee)

  Dundee's innovative science centre, offering unique interactive exhibits.
  www.sensation.org.uk/

Subject Information main page