Gavin Currie, managing director of Bancon Construction (left), with Liz Hodge, chief executive of Aberdeen Science Centre
School pupils are being invited to choose items which they think reflect life Aberdeen in 2019 as part of a time capsule competition at Aberdeen Science Centre.
The items will be put to a public vote and the most popular suggestions will be placed into a secure capsule then buried in the structure of the centre, which is currently undergoing a major refurbishment.
The multi-million-pound redevelopment at the Tramsheds on Constitution Street will revitalise and transform the dated centre as well as expanding the exhibition and corporate space.
The transformation will include an extension and creation of a new mezzanine floor –almost doubling the exhibition space – and exposing the roof structure to allow natural light to flood into the building.
Youngsters at three local primaries – Hanover Street School, Seaton School and St Peter’s RC School – have until mid-September to choose the items they want children of the future to find.
Liz Hodge, chief executive of Aberdeen Science Centre, said: “We have tasked the pupils with selecting the items they think sum up today’s Aberdeen and life in 2019, such as smartphones, a plastic bottle, a newspaper or a wrapper from their favourite snack. The possibilities are endless, and we are looking forward to seeing what they come up!
“As well as being an important lesson in social anthropology we have also set the children a maths lesson to calculate the size of the time capsule and what they could fit inside it.”
The construction work is being carried out by Bancon Construction.
Managing director Gavin Currie said: “The time capsule is a fantastic way of educating future generations about how we live today. The burial ceremony will mark the progress of the building work, which is on target to be completed and ready for the opening in the summer of 2020.”
As well as drawing, writing, using a computer or cutting out pictures to illustrate their ideas, pupils are being encouraged to include letters or short stories from pupils about their lives, how they travel to school, what they watch on TV or what they like to eat.
The suggestions will then be replicated at Aberdeen Science Centre and visitors over the October school holidays will be asked to vote for their favourites, as well as on social media.
Once filled, the time capsule will be buried at a ceremony later this year.
Each of the school classes or groups will receive a visit to the science centre in 2020.
Aberdeen Science Centre has moved to a temporary home at 107 George Street, Aberdeen, allowing visitors to continue to enjoy interactive exhibits, inspiring activities and topical science events while the work is being carried out.
The £4.7m redevelopment has been made possible by support and funding from the Inspiring Science Fund – a partnership between the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), UK Research and Innovation and Wellcome.
Additional support has been granted by Opportunity North-east (ONE) and Aberdeen City Council.
Fundraising is ongoing to secure a further £1.25m to ensure quality of programmes and delivery to enhance the overall visitor experience at the venue.
The centre’s vision and mission are to inspire a lifelong interest in science by creating engaging experiences, with an ambition to be recognised as the Regional STEM Hub that connects, engages and works with members of the public, industry, academia and government to highlight and promote STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths).
For more information on Aberdeen Science Centre, visit www.aberdeensciencecentre.org