The University of Aberdeen and Station House Media Unit (SHMU) have received a 'Curiosity' grant from Children in Need.
Curiosity is a brand new £2.5m partnership between BBC Children in Need and the Wellcome Trust which will use the power of exciting and engaging science activities to create change for children and young people experiencing disadvantage in the UK.
The new partnership invited applications for grants up to £10,000 to fund projects that engage children and young people in science based activities.
Working together, the University and SHMU have received £10,000 in order to support their Youth Media Project, which encourages young people, living in the regeneration areas of Aberdeen, to explore science through digital community media.
The project will see young people working with teams from the University and SHMU to carry out a range of activities including create radio shows, magazines and videos looking at the topics relating to science, including ‘who are scientists?’
The Curiosity grant will cover the cost of materials and staff at the project to enable young people to use their skills in film, radio, magazine and on-line platforms to research and develop stories with a science theme. The project aims to boost the participant’s skills and confidence, and will provide an opportunity for them to participate in the University’s May Festival where they will organise and lead a public event with a panel of scientists.
Dr Heather Doran from the University of Aberdeen’s Public Engagement with Research Unit, commented: “This is an extremely exciting project and I am delighted that the partnership between the University and SHMU has received this grant.
“The grant will allow us to create a fun and informative way for young people to get involved in science, as well give them the opportunity to take part in this year’s May Festival by interviewing scientists. I can’t wait to see what the group will produce.”
Denise Reid, Youth Media Manager at SHMU commented: “We are delighted to be working alongside the University of Aberdeen on this project, which is enabling us to further develop the strong partnership between both organisations. The project provides an opportunity for experts from the field of science to work with our young experts in the field community media – we can’t wait to see the results.”