More than 3,000 youngsters and adults attended TechFest’s 2018 Activity Weekend on August 25 - 26, with an increase of around 1,000 guests from the 2017 event.
The Activity Weekend was held at the Robert Gordon University (RGU) Garthdee Campus, with visitors encouraged to gain hands-on experience with science and technology as the North-east’s annual festival of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), celebrates its 25th year.
Supported by joint principal funders BP and Shell and sponsored by Marathon Oil, the Activity Weekend featured more than 30 interactive workshops, demonstrations and shows, costing just £1 for adults and 1p for children as part of the In For a Penny, In For a Pound initiative.
Booked especially by BP and Shell to mark TechFest’s silver anniversary, visitors experienced first-hand how science and theatre combine with jaw-dropping demos and earth-shaking bangs in The Greatest Hits, presented by Science Museum, London.
Other highlights included ToddleFest, sponsored by Marathon Oil, which offered a range of interactive activities to promote sensory development in pre-school children with young guests having the chance to make rain clouds, playdough and lava lamps.
One of the aims of TechFest 2018, is to engage young people in the four main STEM subjects and encourage them to go on to follow a career which utilises these skills by demonstrating that they are both fun and relevant in day to day life.
Sarah Chew, managing director at TechFest, said: “We’d like to thank everyone who joined us at our fantastic Activity Weekend, our wonderful host, RGU and the teams of volunteers from Shell, CNR, Technip and Subsea 7 who helped us throughout the week and at the event to ensure so many families were able to learn about STEM skills and how they influence our daily lives.
“The excitement continues this week as we deliver our Early Years and Primary Programme for nurseries and primary schools across the North-east at RGU, and we look forward to opening the Public Programme with a talk from professional naturalist and TV presenter Nick Baker on September 8.
“Our 25th anniversary year is shaping up to be as exciting as ever and I’d like to thank each of our sponsors and supporters, in particular our joint principal funders Shell and BP, whose ongoing backing helps us to continue to educate and entertain.”
As well as delving into wildlife, history, technology and music, TechFest 2018 also pays tribute to its milestone year with a range of events exploring the history and uses of silver.
National Museums Scotland will present key objects from its touring exhibition with Behind the scenes of Scotland’s Early Silver: From conservation to display (September 12) and Jacqui Grant, founder of Peterculter based Lava Jewellery Design, will share how the work of Charles Rennie Mackintosh and Robert Burns has influenced her creations in Scottish Silver Design – from Tableware to Jewellery (September 18).
You can book your TechFest tickets online at www.boxofficeaberdeen.com .
