Friday 7 September, 10.45am, Kelvin Gallery, Hunterian Museum, University of Glasgow

Celebrating the launch of Scottish Science Year University and Science Centre link up for the 'Giant Jump'

The multi-focus event in the University's Kelvin Gallery will celebrate Scotland's part in the UK-wide launch of Science Year, on Friday 7 September.

A videolink will show the build-up from London and the 'Giant Jump' sites across the UK till 11am, when the focus will shift to the Minister for Education, Jack McConnell, as he officially launches Scottish Science Year at the Glasgow Science Centre. Guests will then see Lord Sainsbury's speech from London before going live to see our own schoolchildren making the Scottish 'Giant Jump' at the Glasgow Science Centre. Sir William Stewart, President of the British Association for the Advancement of Science, will then discuss Science Year, from the perspective of the British Association. There will be an opportunity for coffee and questions from journalists.

10.30 - 11.00 Large screen videolink to national coverage of Science Year Launch and preparations for the 'Giant Jump'

11.00 - 11.13 Large screen broadcast from the Glasgow Science Centre of the Scottish 'Giant Jump', introduced by Heather Reid. Minister for Education, Jack McConnell, officially launches Science Year in Scotland

11.13 - 11.18 Switch to London broadcast where Lord Sainsbury introduces Science Year

11.18 - 11.24 Sir William Stewart, President of the BA discusses Science Year, form the BA's perspective

11.25 - 11.45 Coffee and questions

The Giant Jump Launch centres taking part are:
- London Science Museum
- Birmingham Think Tank at Millennium Point
- Cornwall Eden Project
- Newcastle Life Interactive World
- Glasgow University of Glasgow and Glasgow Science Centre
- Belfast W5 at Odyssey Centre
- Cardiff Techniquest
- Bristol Explore at Bristol
- Warton Warton Aerodrome

The Giant Jump is a national scientific experiment that will take place simultaneously at the launch centres and in thousands of schools across the UK. By jumping simultaneously for 1 minute at 11.00am, hundreds of thousands of participants will aim to make an impact on the earth and register it on seismometers. All participants will also help to create a new Guinness World Record for the largest simultaneous jump in history.

About Science Year Science Year is a unique initiative managed by NESTA on behalf of the Department for Education and Skills, and involving their key partners the Association for Science Education and the British Association for the Advancement of Science. It aims to raise awareness of science among young people aged 10-19 years and their key influencers - parents and teachers

Working with teachers, industry and the Government, Science Year will be the launchpad for a wide range of activities, initiatives and programmes delivered by local and national organisations from September 2001 - August 2002. Science Year will seek to highlight the many creative opportunities that exist in the workplace today for young people with a science qualification, together with the importance and the impact that science has on our everyday lives. The steering group for Science Year involves government representatives from Department for Education & Skills (DfES), Department of Trade & Industry (DTI), Office for Science & Technology (OST) and Department of Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS).

Science Year aims to -
Raise the profile of science across the board
Stimulate creativity and generate excitement about science-based learning at all levels
Increase pupil engagement in science subjects, leading to higher standards
Increase the take-up rate of science in further study and through career options
Strengthen links between schools and industry and higher education institutions
Involve the science and wider community, including parents
Celebrate achievements in science and identify role models - especially for girls and ethnic minorities

About NESTA NESTA (National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts) was set up by Act of Parliament in 1998 to support and promote talent, innovation and creativity in science, technology and the arts. Its income, about £10 million a year, comes from the interest from an endowment of £200 million from the National lottery that was committed to establish, what is, the UK's first and only national endowment.

For information on how the funding programmes work and how NESTA is governed visit the web site www.nesta.org.uk or contact Hannah Daws, press officer, tel: 020 7645 9534

Media Relations Office (media@gla.ac.uk)

All journalists are welcome to attend. For further details please contact the University of Glasgow Press Office on 0141 330 3535
For further information about Science Year, contact:Siobhan Doherty, PR Manager, Science Year, Tel: 020 7808 1898 Email: siobhan@scienceyear.com
OR Fraser Pettigrew, Press Officer, DfES, Tel: 020 7925 5104

First published: 6 September 2001