FREE Science Saturday event to launch in Aberdeen 

An NHS Grampian medical secretary has decided to inspire the next generation of doctors, dentists, medical physicists and biological scientists by launching a new science outreach programme in Aberdeen.

Science Saturday is a completely free, weekly science programme which will be run by volunteers at Inchgarth Community Centre in Garthdee from March 1, with an open day this weekend (15 February). It will be primarily aimed at school-aged children and will also offer academic support for young people undertaking their national qualifications.

The venture is the brainchild of Hannah Olds, a medical secretary for NHS Grampian’s gynaecology department, who herself has a Masters in Medical Physics from the University of Aberdeen.

Hannah (27), who grew up in New York and moved to Aberdeen to study her MSc, is using her local contacts to find contributors for Science Saturday. She explained: “We’ll be hosting an open day on February 15th before the regular sessions start on March 1st. It is the first organisation of its kind in Aberdeen and we aim to focus on accessibility for all. There will be lots of fun activities, with a different workshop planned for every weekend.”

Hannah hopes to one day join the Scientist Training Programme (STP Scotland) and qualify as a clinically trained Medical Physicist. She’s very aware the NHS will need to nurture lots of talent and expertise to thrive in the future and hopes to play her part in making that happen. The open day session will run from 2-4pm, with sessions running from 1-4pm weekly from March 1.

Hannah said: “By educating young people in the local area in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths), we will inevitably be including medicine and medically relevant topics. Hopefully, this in turn will encourage the future generation of healthcare providers, including everyone from doctors to dentists, medical physicists and biological scientists.

“There are a huge variety of roles in the NHS and lots of opportunities for exciting careers in healthcare as well as research, and we hope to be able to share some of our insights with young people.”

Hannah credits the skills she’s developed in NHS admin roles with helping her to start an entire volunteer organisation from scratch. She is also very passionate about making science fun and affordable.

She added: “This is an effort to bridge the attainment gap between students in high and low income areas. We can help make science instruction in Scotland the best it can be.”

For more information, visit www.sciencesaturday.co.uk or email hannah@sciencesaturday.co.uk