Heriot-Watt University is reaching out to the local community of Wester Hailes in a bid to get more people into science.
The university is working in partnership with Ratho Coaches to run free buses to the campus for a science related family fun day at Oriam, Scotland’s Sports Performance Centre, on Saturday 14 April.
The event is part of the Edinburgh International Science Festival and the university’s Year of the Sea campaign.
Buses will run every half hour from outside Clovenstone Primary School and the Whale Arts Agency.
On campus, visitors will be able to get hands-on with cutting edge scientific research and Oriam will be turned into an underwater world with robot construction, froth, foam and bubbles.
There will also be the opportunity to take virtual reality tours, watch microbes cleaning up oil spills and find out about the tiny world with smartphone microscopes.
Visitors will also have a chance to explore the work of university researchers, get hands on with the latest developments in robotics and take part in crystal-maze style challenges.
Dr Laura Wicks, from Heriot-Watt said:
We wanted to invite our local neighbours with the aim of getting people along who may not have been to a science festival before.
It’ll be a great day for all age groups and plenty of fun activities for families to enjoy and we’re delighted to be working in partnership with Ratho Coaches.
We’re hoping some of the residents who live nearby will be fascinated to the weird and wonderful research which goes on behind closed doors.
The Heriot-Watt events for the Edinburgh International Science Festival take place from 5 April to 14 April.
