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Gloucestershire Business News

New centre helps inspire engineers of the future

The community interest company, Cheltenham Science Group, has officially launched Gloucestershire's first hands-on science centre for children, families and schools.

The centre at Coronation Square, Cheltenham, aims to inspire a new generation to pursue science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) careers, by providing an immersive, fully interactive experience for children of all ages.

The refurbished former retail unit, the centre has a wide range of facilities which allow visitors to learn about and experiment with various scientific applications. The centre includes games, puzzles and access to digital microscopes.

The centre has received support from various industrial and institutional partners, including Cheltenham-based engineering firm Spirax Sarco, which assisted Cheltenham Science Group with the refurbishment of its new facility. Cheltenham Science Group has also led several community outreach programmes since its foundation in 2015 by working with local schools and events, including the renowned Cheltenham Science Festival.

To mark the launch of the centre, Cheltenham Science Group is introducing two permanent exhibits: a Jacob's Ladder, formed of a transformer and two electrodes, which often features in the laboratories of fictional "mad scientists"; and a Beaker Speaker, which demonstrates how sound travels using a radio in a box. Both were donated by Nick Moffat, the former owner of Science World Ltd. The company also plans to install a vertical wind tunnel, a magnetic marble run and a gears peg board.

David Watson, founder and director of Cheltenham Science Group, said: "The centre provides families and young people with the opportunity to experience science up-close and personal, without needing to go further afield to Oxford or Bristol. It's a really exciting time for us now. We've seen a positive response from the local community over the summer and we hope to see this continue now that we've officially launched."

Gavin Huxtable, Regional General Manager, Northern Europe at Spirax Sarco, said: "With UK industry facing a skills shortage, particularly in engineering, it is vital that we encourage children to take an interest in STEM subjects from as young an age as possible. Cheltenham Science Group is doing a great job engaging the local community in these disciplines, and we look forward to supporting David and the team as the group's facilities expand."

For more information on Cheltenham Science Group, please visit: www.cheltenhamsciencegroup.co.uk

Picture credit: Cheltenham Science Group

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