How long have you been working at Glasgow Science Centre and what made you want to work here – do you have a science background/interest in science?  

 I’m a real newbie compared to some of the team - I’ve only been here a few months but have been made to feel super welcome by everyone. I’m also not strictly speaking a scientist, but I do have a background in social science, and wrote my PhD thesis in Glasgow on public health and the media - a very niche but interesting world if you like those old adverts that tried to get kids to stop playing on the railroad tracks – I know that I still have nightmares about that particular one.  

I think it was the opportunity to work at such an established and interesting place that drew me initially to the role, it seemed like it would be really varied, and a lot of fun, which it has been. The variety of the work that goes on, both on the floor and behind the scenes, is amazing. I knew I would have a lot to do, but that the work would be really mixed and hopefully really rewarding.    

What do you like most about your role?    

The diversity. The Science Centre really is unlike many other places I’ve worked, be that academia, TV production or the third sector. At its heart, it has very simple aims, but those aims are targeted at so many different people; from babies to grandparents, students to teachers, academics to astronauts, and pretty much everyone in between. This means that the work I do to secure funding for the science centre can vary wildly from helping to remove barriers for those usually unable to visit the centre, to writing bids for projects aimed at things like Green Energy, Exhibit Design or Education Programmes about Space. For instance, we recently launched our Corporate Membership campaign, a real team effort, and hopefully a way for the Science Centre to connect with a whole new group of visitors. This variety means that I have to keep my eyes open for all kinds of opportunities, which keeps me busy, but also gives me a great opportunity to learn and to be creative in my approach to fundraising and overall development.      

 In your opinion, what is the best thing about working at Glasgow Science Centre?  

The staff. Everyone has been really friendly, and I’ve already made some good friends. People here have a real passion for their role, and they also have such a diverse range of interests, I always end up chatting about weird and wonderful things, from the newest scientific discoveries to why Lord of the Rings is the greatest film trilogy ever made!  

Currently, what do you believe are some of the main challenges facing charities and third sector organisations, and what needs to be done to support them?  

Funding is getting harder and harder to find, plus the short-term nature of many funds mean a constant struggle to stay afloat. Large philanthropic funds, European grants and Government spending is all in decline, so more and more charities are all fighting for the same funds. The cost-of-living crisis is also hitting everybody really hard, we see that in visitor numbers, and we are trying to make sure that we remain an option to those on a limited budget. Some grants and sponsors do help to support this, but we know how expensive it can be for a family to go out for the day right now. Any support we get always goes to removing barriers to access and we hope that anybody that wants to visit the science centre gets at least one opportunity to do so.    

At the moment, science and discovery centres are largely excluded from the public funds that support similar organisations, such as museums and cultural spaces. However, the ASDC’s ‘Science Centres For Our Future’ campaign is seeking to change this. They have written an open letter, calling on the Government to recognise science and discovery centres as part of the UK’s scientific and cultural ecosystem, and provide funding for the sector’s infrastructure needs. You can find out more and sign the letter of support yourself here; Science Centres For Our Future.

Why are charities like Glasgow Science Centre so important when it comes to creating opportunities for people from all backgrounds to engage with and enjoy science?    

I’m a big believer in the power of representation. People need to see people like themselves in spaces where they might not think they would be. Seeing science up close, learning about all the ways that it impacts our daily lives and seeing people that are like you talk about science with so much passion, can really be a life changing moment for someone. Getting hands on with science shows people that it’s not just lab coats and test tubes - science surrounds us every day and the better our understanding of that, the better our understanding of life -  plus, blowing stuff up, flying through space and running in a giant hamster wheel is also really fun!