The important role The Orkney International Science Festival (OISF) plays in the promotion of science and engineering has been recognised in funding from the Scottish Government.

OISF joins with other science festivals and events around Scotland with awards of grants ranging from £7,000 to £65,000.

The grants will help towards the costs of:

Orkney International Science Festival in 2022 ran both in person and online events. 2022 was its 32nd anniversary. The talks it hosts are on a wide range of topics and are available to watch free on its YouTube Channel.

£45,000 of funding also went to Young Engineers and Science Clubs, who support STEM learning and teaching through a network of school-based clubs run by the Scottish Council for Development and Industry

£55,000 of funding was awarded to Generation Science, who support STEM learning and teaching through workshops and resources

Scotland has historically had a strong role in science and engineering , a tradition it is keen to continue.

Minister for Further Education, Higher Education, Youth Employment and Training in the Scottish Government 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 required in our future workforce.

“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.”