An Exciting New Archaeology STEM Learning Project
We’re delighted to announce that we have received funding from ScottishPower Foundation for our Energy through Time project.
This money will support our work with young people, building Archaeology and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) skills while exploring sustainability in the past and for the future!
Twenty charities across Scotland, England and Wales have been awarded funding from ScottishPower Foundation totalling almost £1.2 million for projects committed to tackling current issues, from cost of living support and raising aspirations for the next generation to protecting the environment and celebrating cultural diversity.
Our exciting new project, Energy Through Time, will help young people from disadvantaged backgrounds to develop transferable skills and build their understanding of archaeology and STEM. Through the project, young people will harness the power of the past by exploring the historic green spaces around our base at Newbattle Abbey with the task of creating innovative solutions for future energy sustainability, enabling them to become climate ambassadors for the future.
Exploring the Icehouse at Newbattle Abbey with pupils from St Luke’s Primary School.
Supported by the ScottishPower Foundation, the first courses of the project will be kicking off as part of Meaningful May, a programme of activity offered to young people who are not sitting exams in school, with the aim of supporting them into a positive destination.
Melanie Hill, Executive Officer and Trustee at the ScottishPower Foundation, said: “The Energy Through Time project is helping young people to look into the past to inspire their very own future in STEM, supporting them in developing a host of skills and become the next generation of climate ambassadors.
“At the ScottishPower Foundation we always want to nurture projects that we believe will make a real difference, not only to our planet but to our local communities and the people within them. That is why it’s important for us to recognise and boost the incredible work of charities across the UK.”
Jane Miller, Learning Officer: “At Archaeology Scotland we engage and connect young people with their local heritage, helping them develop new skills while raising aspirations for work and further learning. This project gives us the opportunity to use archaeology to grow STEM literacy amongst young people from areas where people are experiencing disadvantage across various aspects of their lives.
“We’re extremely grateful to the ScottishPower Foundation for supporting this new project which forms part of our Attainment through Archaeology courses, designed to offer all people the chance to develop and grow, whatever their background.”
Get Involved!
Over the next 12 months we’ll be developing new Archaeological Learning resources, offering training for educators and running exciting and engaging archaeology workshops and courses for children and young people around our base at Newbattle Abbey in Dalkeith.
If you work with children or young people and would like to get involved, or if you’d like more information, contact Jane Miller, Learning Officer at education@archaeologyscotland.org.uk
