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Caithness and Orkney primary schools to explore the science of water

Published: 07/10/2025

Primary school pupils in Caithness and Orkney will soon have the chance to dive into the fascinating science of water, thanks to a new industry and education partnership with Scottish Water.

Delivered locally by the Science Skills Academy (SSA), the Water Cycle Workshop gives pupils the opportunity to create their own mini water cycle, experiment with the processes of evaporation, condensation and precipitation, and discover how clean, safe drinking water reaches their taps.

The workshops are part of Scottish Water’s Generation H2O programme, developed with Aberdeen Science Centre and now being rolled out to science centres and education partners across Scotland, including Glasgow, Dundee, Edinburgh and the Highlands and Islands. Over the next ten months, more than 2,400 pupils will take part.

Jennifer Banks, senior STEM engagement officer at SSA, said:

“We are delighted to bring this exciting project to primary schools in Caithness and Orkney. It’s a fantastic opportunity for pupils in some of Scotland’s more remote communities to access the same high-quality STEM learning as their peers elsewhere, while also seeing the real-world importance of water in their lives and futures.”

Since its launch in 2023, the Scottish Water programme has reached almost 59,000 young people nationwide. As well as highlighting the importance of protecting this vital natural resource the sessions also introduce children to the wide variety of careers linked to water science, engineering and the environment.

Scottish Water chief executive, Alex Plant, commented:

“It’s fantastic to see this positive legacy, which follows on from our Annual Consultative Meeting last year in Aberdeen, and this year in Dundee. Expanding the workshop to other Science Centres across Scotland is an important step in developing key STEM skills and inspiring the next generation, some of whom may form part of our future workforce. And all of this helps to get across to young people the importance and value of water, on which we all depend.”

The programme is set to be delivered in Caithness and Orkney later this year.

The Science Skills Academy was launched in 2019 by Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE), with initial core-funding from the Inverness and Highland City Region Deal. Its grown over the years thanks to support from Highland Council, and other public and private sector partners.

For more information about the Science Skills Academy or to arrange a free school visit to your local Newton Room, please visit www.scienceskillsacademy.co.uk

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