Celebrating physics outreach in Scotland: Lab in a Lorry’s 4th anniversary

From left to right: Gillian Black, Heather Reid and Kenny MacAskill MSP spoke at the event at Holy Rood RC High School yesterday in support of Lab in a Lorry

Volunteers, MSPs and people from science-based industry gathered at Holy Rood High School yesterday to celebrate the success of the IOP’s Lab in a Lorry in Scotland over the last four years. Alison McLure, IOP National Officer in Scotland, reports.

IOP Fellow Heather Reid introduced the event by welcoming everyone and outlining the importance of science and engineering to the economy. Kenny MacAskill, the constituency MSP for Edinburgh East and Musselburgh, congratulated Lab in a Lorry for carrying on the important work of encouraging youngsters to study the sciences at school.

Gillian Black of OPITO (Offshore Petroleum Industry Training Organization) stressed the importance of Lab in a Lorry and other initiatives to employers as they encourage the uptake of sciences by pupils, ensuring that Scotland’s schools continue to produce a supply of skilled people for industry.

The guests enjoyed looking round the lorry accompanied by pupils from Holy Rood High.  I hope that the lorry continues its success in Scotland. Not only has it given more than 30,000 pupils hands on experience of experiments, but it has given local volunteers a chance to practice their science communication skills and to show the pupils that a careers in science and engineering is well worthwhile.