This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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National Science Week
10/03/2005
National Science Week swung into action today with a demonstration of how golf club technology has improved at the Home of Golf in St Andrews.
Enterprise Minister Jim Wallace watched Dr Steve Otto of the Royal & Ancient use the Doppler Radar tracking system at the Links driving range.
The equipment tracks and records the flight and velocity of golf balls and can predict where a ball will land. It is used for developing and testing golf equipment, as well as for helping to improve golfers' swings.
Mr Wallace said:
"Science is vitally important to Scotland's economic future and plays a crucial role in improving quality of life. If we want young people to be enthused by science, we need to fire their imagination and show them that science can be fun as well as informative.
"Events such as today's demonstrate that science is relevant to all aspects of our everyday lives - from engineering and i-pods to the Internet and even sport.
"National Science Week has the potential to take the spark of childhood curiosity and ignite a lifelong passion for science. This is vital if we are to inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers."
Roland Jackson, chief executive of the British Association for the Advancement of Science, said:
"Science plays a central role in our lives, from developing new medicines and investigating climate change to designing the latest mobile phone or tennis racquet.
"It is important that everyone is able to engage with science and science-related issues, and National Science Week gives them this chance, whether it is finding out something new, discussing your hopes and concerns about the progress of science or just getting your hands mucky with a home experiment."
George Taylor, general manager in Scotland and Vice President of Agilent Technologies , sponsor of National Science Week 2005, said:
"As a company involved in scientific innovation, we believe that fostering greater interest in and understanding of science in the UK is of the greatest importance to Scotland and Britain's continued economic growth. We are delighted to sponsor National Science Week 2005.".
Almost 100 National Science Week events are listed on the BA's National Science Week website as happening in Scotland.
Other Scottish events happening throughout National Science week include the BA's own "Highland Stag Challenge", which will involve 195 schools from Shetland to the Borders as well as the 30 Community Groups in the Aberdeen area (including the Aberdeen Prison Service) which signed up to take part.
While several Aberdeen-based scientists will be talking about their research in a week-long radio series called "Science Snaps" to be broadcast in the North by Northsound Radio One, will reach thousands of regional listeners and a worldwide audience via the internet ( www.sciencesnaps.co.uk)