ScottishPower is a business built on science and technology so it makes real business sense for us to support initiatives that encourage a greater interest and understanding of science among young people. Interactivity is a common thread running through our science programmes, and we support an exciting range of science projects across the UK.

Teaching school pupils about renewable energy could easily be dry and boring. Now that it has become a priority and part of the school curriculum, ScottishPower Renewables decided that sending an ‘S’ Cube to every school in South Ayrshire would make it much more exciting.

What makes the ‘S’ Cube different is that it lets children see, touch and experiment with alternative energies, including solar and wind power, and helps bring renewable energy to life in an interesting way.

Children love doing experiments and learning by doing helps engage them. The ‘S’ Cube is a ‘hands-on’ approach to helping children understand how renewable energy works. The ‘S’ Cube contains a small wind turbine, a solar panel and instructions for generating energy. It allows children to power a torch or thermometer with the energy of the sun or wind. Older children can hook up the capacitor and voltmeter and learn more about the science of energy.

Glasgow Science Centre is a £75 million Millennium project located at Pacific Quay on the south bank of the River Clyde in Glasgow, Scotland. It embodies Scotland's heritage as a champion of innovative science and engineering, celebrating the nation which gave the rest of the world numerous inventions and discoveries from penicillin and the telephone, to the pneumatic tyre and the television.

In an effort to make Glasgow Science Centre (GSC) accessible and inclusive for everyone, the Community Liaison project was developed in 2001. This innovative project was the first of its type within any UK science centre. It was designed to work with community organisations on a range of initiatives. These not only promote science and technology, but develop new ways to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to access the resources within Glasgow Science Centre. 

Each day 15 presenters, supplemented by guest speakers from the world of science, deliver five shows. It has around 70,000 visitors each year, giving them the opportunity to explore the planets and the solar system within a 15 metre dome. The success of the project has led to similar projects being developed within other UK science centres.

Glasgow Science Centre inspires, educates and motivates people by switching them on to science, and consists of three main buildings:

• The ScottishPower Planetarium is the best equipped planetarium in the UK, giving visitors the opportunity to explore the planets and the solar system within a 15-metre dome
• The Science Mall is the main building which brings science and technology to life in a series of cutting edge exhibitions and displays over three levels
• The IMAX Cinema is Scotland's first 2D/3D cinema. It houses Scotland's biggest cinema screen - the size of a five aside football pitch - offering one of the most memorable cinematic experiences in the world

To find out more, visit the Glasgow Science Centre website

Primary school pupils from all over Scotland got the chance to learn about science and energy as part of the Edinburgh International Science Festival’s touring education programme. – Generation Science.  ScottishPower sponsored the programme of 17 shows aimed at entertaining youngsters in the 7 to 11 age group and switch them on to science.  The shows will seen by more than 62,000 children from the Highlands to the Borders and includes shows such as  Dr Bunhead’s Revenge of the Bogey about the wonderful world of materials and Light Fantastic, about energy and where it comes from.