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Aberdeen Science Centre is to launch a new series of hands-on preschool sessions for the youngest budding scientists.

Children aged between three to six years will have the chance to build rockets, design their own artwork, chill out with stories and get messy with fun experiments.

The Little Explorer Days will be held every Friday during term time, with themes including space and baby animals.

Each Little Explorer Day will include a hands-on workshop, drop-in activities and storytime, as well as time to explore the centre’s 60 exhibits, which include a dedicated under-6s zone with giant puzzles, a train set, building toys and a soft corner with a play wind turbine.

The first theme is Adventures in Space, which will run for three Fridays from February 25 to March 11.

Youngsters will have the chance to make their own galaxy art, enjoy colouring in and puzzles, build and decorate their own rockets to take home.

The next theme is baby animals, which will run for three weeks from Friday, March 18.

The sessions will run from 10am to 1pm or 1-4pm and are included in the admission price.

Bryan Snelling, chief executive of Aberdeen Science Centre, said: “Our mission is to engage visitors of all ages in STEM activities so we have created the Little Explorer series to provide fun and hands-on learning for our young explorers.

“We hope to instil a lifelong interest in science in youngsters and we know they will love exploring the exhibition floor as well as taking part in the workshops, storytime and arts and crafts sessions.

“Parents and carers can also enjoy a great day out exploring our 60 hands-on exhibits, including our chatty robot RoboThespian and the OPITO Theatre of Energy, as well as a coffee or lunch in our café!”

Aberdeen Science Centre reopened to the public in November 2020 after a major project to create an aspirational science centre which reflects the STEM priorities for both industry and education.

The centre’s exhibits are aimed at all ages and are themed into six zones: Energy; Space; Life Sciences; Make It, Test It; and the dedicated area for the under-6s, as well as the Shell Learning Zone, where science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) are brought to life.

Aberdeen Science Centre’s £4.7m redevelopment was made possible by generous support and funding from the Inspiring Science Fund – a partnership between the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and Wellcome - with additional funding provided by Opportunity North East (ONE) and Aberdeen City Council.

The project secured a further £1.5m from funders and sponsors including OPITO, Shell, Equinor, bp, The Robertson Trust, TAQA and CNOOC International to deliver quality exhibits and programmes to enhance the overall visitor experience at the venue, as well through outreach work.

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