The Orkney International Science Festival

Stagecoach have enabled school pupils in Orkney to visit the SUN installation at St Magnus Cathedral, Kirkwall, by providing free transport.

The funding already in place for visiting the SUN was not enough to meet price increases for island transport and a number of schools were having to pull out.

Commenting about the provision of free transport from bus company Stagecoach, Donna Admin Assistant, at Stenness School said:

“We’d like to express our gratitude to Stagecoach for sponsoring this event and providing our transport free of charge.

“Removing the bus hire cost has made this exciting opportunity possible for us to take part in and enjoy. As a small rural school, transportation costs can be a barrier to us being able to participate in some events that we’d like our children to benefit from, so this is very welcome indeed.”

As part of this project, OISF planned high-quality public engagement activities for everyone, especially school groups showcasing the immersive SUN installation in St Magnus Cathedral. Special packages were created to engage school groups, especially from outer island communities in Orkney, who otherwise wouldn’t have the opportunity to engage with themes and topics delivered during the Festival.

Maha Abhishek, Deputy Festival Director added:

“It’s magnificent that Stagecoach are supporting this and made it possible for so many young people to experience this spectacular event.”

Richard Ryder – Operations Manager for Stagecoach Orkney said:

“We are delighted to be supporting our local schools engaging with the Orkney International Science Festival and inspiring the next generation of scientists and engineers. At Stagecoach, we work hard to facilitate remote communities’ access transformative experiences, such as the SUN Installation at St Magnus Cathedral, part of this year’s Festival.

“By investing in our young people, we are all investing in a sustainable future for our islands and beyond.”

The Sun was installed in St Magnus Cathedral from 7th to the 14th September, for the duration of the festival and was fully booked with schools attending everyday. Click on this link to find out more about The SUN