Labs, museum and medical training centre open their doors

Learn what life’s like as a scientist. See how doctors and nurses are trained. Discover hidden cultural treasures. Find out more about plant and animal life. And check out first class sports facilities.

These are just some of the attractions on display this Saturday (September 11) when the University of Aberdeen welcomes the public for Doors Open Day.

The Institute of Medical Sciences (IMS) and the Suttie Centre for Teaching and Learning in Healthcare at Foresterhill are among University buildings taking part.

The IMS is the base for scientists from around the world researching all sorts of conditions including bone disease, cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, fungal infection, Parkinson’s disease and schizophrenia. Lab tours will be offered here at 11.30am and 1.30pm.

Next door to the IMS is the Suttie Centre - just officially opened by Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal - where medical students are taught and where existing healthcare professionals can brush up on their skills.

The Suttie Centre – open between 10am and 2pm – will be showcasing a range of facilities including 3D technology; patient simulators and demonstrations of how medical professionals are trained to deal with violence and aggression.

Visitors can also view the city skyline from the rooftop terrace at the top of the Suttie Centre.

Also on the Foresterhill campus is the Aberdeen Medico-Chirurgical Society which was founded in 1789, originally as the Aberdeen Medical Society. Open between 10am and 4pm, it is home to assorted items associated with the development of medicine in Aberdeen.

Across town Aberdeen Sports Village is open between 10am and 4pm. Among attractions here is the full size indoor FIFA approved pitch, one of the first of its kind in the UK.

The pitch is surrounded by viewing portals, carefully arranged to reflect the formations of World Cup winning teams and their colours.

On the Old Aberdeen campus the Natural History Centre and Zoology Museum are open between 12 noon and 4pm.

Visitors can learn more about local plant and animal life, take part in hands on activities and join in a tour around the Zoology Museum to learn about the University’s historic zoology collection which covers the whole of the animal kingdom.

Elsewhere on campus Special Libraries and Archives will be offering tours at 10am, 11am, 12 noon and 1pm, offering a behind the scenes peak at some of the country’s most important cultural treasures and rare books that have been accumulated over the last 500 years.

Finally the 200-year-old the Old Town House which was restored to its former glory thanks to the University and Heritage Lottery Fund and is now used as a gateway to the University is open to the public between 10am and 4pm.