The Scottish Government has announced £75,000 has been awarded to the network of Science Festivals across the Highlands and Islands. Five festivals will receive at least £10,000 with additional funds being made available to help with transport costs. Festivals in Caithness, Moray, Inverness, Shetland and Orkney will be able to expand their science programmes and the upcoming festival in the Outer Hebrides will be able to establish itself.

The funding enables the festivals to finance their publicity, training for science communicators employed during the festival and venue hire. It also provides an excellent opportunity for the festivals to involve a wider audience of primary and secondary pupils, families and adults. The festivals can also establish 'open doors' events with local businesses and research institutes or introduce family days.

The science festivals in Orkney and Moray are the longest running and have been established since the early 1990's. Ms Hyslop, the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning, remarked how "Science festivals across Scotland make science accessible and fun for a wide audience. This new funding will help ensure that in our more remote communities they continue to inspire our young people with the opportunities that science can offer. Science has the power to open up so many career paths for our young people and is central to our future economic prosperity. Scotland is in a strong position in the study of science however we need to continually highlight the benefits - especially to children coming through our primary schools - to ensure it stays that way."

Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) STEM director Donna Chisholm commented: "We are very pleased to see this support for Science Festivals across the North because they are a vital part of increasing public understanding of science in our region."

HIE and the Office of the Chief Scientific Adviser in the Scottish Government are working together to encourage young people to continue their studies in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) subject areas. Knowledge in these subject areas is extremely valuable in the jobs market, and general understanding of STEM issues across communities will also be essential in future years as the challenges of climate change and energy requirements increase. Recent research by the Confederation of British Industry revealed that 92% of UK employers across all sectors employ STEM skilled people.

New funds for science festivals follows a recent funding package worth £56,000 creating by HIE and the Scottish Government to create new science clubs in schools and colleges across the region.

The STEM North of Scotland Partnership is a grouping of six local authorities, the University of the Highlands and Islands Millennium Institute, the Open University, Skills Development Scotland and HIE which works to promote science, technology, engineering and mathematics. The group's aim is to ensure young people know more about the importance of STEM subjects in the world around them. In particular in energy, ICT, life sciences, finance and business, and food and drink - all very important employment sectors in the North of Scotland.

Please visit the websites of the individual Science Festivals for more information.

Orkney: 3rd - 9th September 2009, www.oisf.org
Moray: March 2010, www.moray.ac.uk/moray-college/about/science-festivals.php
Caithness: March 2010, www.caithness.org/sciencefestival/index.htm
Shetland: June 2010