Big Edinburgh firm and sponsor of many arts related events, Bailie Gifford, is to become headline sponsor of Edinburgh Science Learning. This is the education arm of Edinburgh Science (which also organises Europe’s biggest science festival in the Easter holidays too).
The learning part of the organisation has reached more than a million school pupils in Scotland and is reckoned to be a leader in science education. Generation Science begins its spring tour on 17 February 2020.
Samantha Pattman Sponsorship Manager at Bailie Gifford met with Joan Davidson, Head of Learning at Edinburgh Science at Victoria Primary School. P2 pupils took part in Bricks and Blocks which is a hands on introduction to programming. The pupils learn about robotics, coding and problem solving by using laptops and drag and drop coding.
Joan Davidson, Head of Learning at Edinburgh Science said: “We are extremely pleased to be continuing to work with Baillie Gifford who now become the headline sponsor of Edinburgh Science Learning. Their invaluable support will go towards our flagship education projects, Generation Science and Careers Hive, as well as enabling more primary school children to access the Edinburgh Science Festival at City Art Centre Open Days. It will also help us deliver our science education projects in the local community.
“Our vision is a world where the value of STEM is recognised and celebrated, in order to achieve a brighter and more sustainable future. With 30 years of experience delivering high-quality engaging shows and workshops, we are a leader in our field, and we are thrilled to have Baillie Gifford supporting us in this ambition.”
Samantha Pattman, Baillie Gifford’s Sponsorship Manager said: “Baillie Gifford is delighted to be headline sponsor for Edinburgh Science Learning. Headquartered in Edinburgh, the firm is proud to play an active role in its community by supporting a diverse variety of projects across festivals and the arts, education and social inclusion.
“As science, technology, engineering and maths roles struggle to be filled and the breadth of STEM-related prospects grow, inspiring young people in science has never been more important.”
The funding will support four parts of the work which Edinburgh Science Learning does :
1. Generation Science – a programme that brings unique and inspiring science lessons directly to classrooms all over Scotland with highly interactive shows and hands-on workshops. The tour visits schools across Scotland from February to June each year. This year’s offer includes 10 shows and workshops, e.g. brand-new Creative Coding which sees pupils coding their very own dancing robot or Body Builders where students are taken on a journey through our bodily systems with colourful props and hands-on demonstrations.
The spring tour of Generation Science starts on 17 February and will see trained science communicators create interactive and fun environments in nurseries and P1-P7 classrooms and gym halls all over the country. Generation Science is a vital part of the Scottish Government’s STEM strategy for its support of students’ and teachers’ science education in the local authorities.
2. Careers Hive – an immersive careers education event designed to give students in S1-S3 a new way to think about their futures. It highlights the opportunities available to those who study STEM subjects (science, technology, engineering and maths) through participatory activities, discussions with early careers STEM professionals and skills workshops. Careers Hive 2020 runs from 24–29 February at the National Museum of Scotland with a public open day on Saturday 29 February.
3. City Art Centre Open Days – on 1 and 2 April, hundreds of pupils from several Edinburgh schools will experience an exclusive preview of the Edinburgh Science Festival’s flagship family venue ahead of its opening to Festival audiences on 4 April. With five floors to explore, this unique science playground offers several bookable workshops as well as drop-in activities, including ER where children perform a knee, abdomen or brain surgery, Ocean Constructors where they build an exploratory underwater craft or Buzz about bees, teaching all about the importance of bees to the environment and human existence.
Thanks to the support from Baillie Gifford, the Open Days initiative was introduced in 2019 an d over 400 pupils from 8 Edinburgh schools enjoyed sessions at the City Art Centre on 3 and 4 April last year.
4. Community Engagement – Edinburgh Science Learning’s projects also include bespoke workshops and activities for various age groups which are developed in close partnership with community partners across Edinburgh.
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