WINCHESTER Science Centre has been selected as a partner for a new national programme to increase diversity in science.

The facility is just one of 15 science centres and museums nationally to deliver initiatives as part of the UK Association for Science and Discovery Centres and the Science Museum Group’s ‘Science Capital in Practice’ programme.

The news means the centre will now receive a grant, training and additional resources to help promote STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) engagement in the community.

Winchester Science Centre was chosen as one of the selected partners after impressing the panel with a programme to widen participation in STEM on the Isle of Wight.

Karen Davies, head of learning research and resources at the Science Museum Group, said: “We were hugely impressed by the quality of proposals we received and are delighted to be working alongside the 15 partner organisations to build a community of good practice across the country. This is a great opportunity to test ideas informed by the research that will have longer term benefits for the centres, and which allows those audiences they engage with to feel that science, and science centres and museums, are for them.”

Dr Penny Fidler, CEO of The UK Association for Science and Discovery Centres (ASDC), added: “We are delighted to be a key partner in this national programme. Championing diversity and inclusion in science is at the heart of what ASDC and the Science Centres and museums do daily. This programme will support centres to nurture the scientific talents and entrepreneurial minds across our whole population, not just those who are already interested.”