Dundee Science Centre Backs Campaign for Fair Funding
Dundee Science Centre is calling for renewed investment in the city’s science learning offering as it lends its support to a national campaign to fund and future-proof science centres across the UK.
The Dundee visitor attraction and community resource, also a registered charity, is backing the UK-wide ‘Science Centres For Our Future campaign’. Led by the UK Association for Science and Discovery Centres (ASDC), the campaign saw an open letter signed by over 3,100 leading scientists, educators, business leaders and members of the public delivered to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, Science and Technology Secretary Liz Kendall and Science Minister Lord Vallance.
The letter urges the Government to recognise science and discovery centres as essential to the UK’s scientific, educational, and cultural infrastructure and to provide them with fair access to capital funding. While museums, theatres, galleries, and libraries can access National Lottery and government repair funds, science centres have historically been excluded.
Celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, the Centre, which opened in 2000 as part of the national Millennium Projects, has engaged with around 2.75 million people including 225,000 free visits. Operating as a charity, Dundee Science Centre reinvests any surpluses into ensuring that science is accessible to all.
Over 25 years, Dundee Science Centre has become a cornerstone of learning and community engagement in the city. Welcoming over 60,000 visitors annually to the award-winning visitor attraction, the Centre also reaches more than 50,000 learners across schools and under-represented groups and engages 150,000 people through digital STEM content. The Centre, an employer of 40 local staff, also provides a pathway to progress into wider STEM careers.
Jill Farrell, Chief Executive Officer, said, “For 25 years, Dundee Science Centre has been a hands-on, welcoming space where children, families, teachers, and communities explore science together. But the reality is that our building is ageing. As a charity, we strive to keep visitor costs as low as possible, are committed to the Real Living Wage, and invest in our people so they can realise their potential. This leaves little room for the capital investment needed to maintain our building or develop the next generation of exhibitions that spark a love of STEM.
“Without access to the capital funding streams available to museums and arts organisations, we simply cannot maintain the infrastructure required to deliver the impact our city relies on. This isn’t just about bricks and mortar; it’s about safeguarding Dundee’s STEM pipeline and ensuring opportunities remain open to everyone. Our team is ambitious for the future and committed to igniting passion for STEM subjects that underpin every aspect of our society and economy. We work hard to maximise our programmes, provide free and subsidised access for those who need it most, and bring STEM experiences to people who can’t come to us. Investment in our building and exhibits is essential if we are to continue making science accessible to all.”
Alongside the national appeal, Dundee Science Centre invites local businesses to help secure its future, not just through funding, but through meaningful partnerships. Opportunities include naming rights for exhibitions or programmes, co-branded STEM resources and school outreach, researcher residencies, and live lab showcases. Businesses can also offer work placements, apprenticeships, or early-career pipelines; participate in corporate volunteering; use the Centre for venue hire; or explore fundraising collaborations.
Jill Farrell added, “Over these 25 years, many local businesses sharing our values of education, community, and innovation have supported Dundee Science Centre. As we look to the next 25 years, new partnerships offer the chance to engage with over 60,000 visitors annually, 15,000 school pupils, 43,000 community members, and over 10,000 festival attendees, widening access to under-represented groups and showcasing a commitment to innovation and inclusion. We welcome the opportunity to work with the local STEM community in businesses, academia, the public sector and communities to take STEM beyond wonder.”
Dundee Science Centre is part of the Association for Science and Discovery Centres (ASDC), a network of over 25 science and discovery centres across the UK that reach more than 5.2 million people every year, including pupils and teachers in 35% of all UK schools. More than 450,000 people from under-represented communities benefit from free access to STEM experiences annually.
