Aberdeen Science Centre: an exciting family day out for islanders
“I wish there was a science museum in Shetland!” said Rohan, my oldest son, as he looked wistfully at photographs of a Science Centre in his magazine. Since he was younger, Rohan has been taking toys apart to see how they work and then rebuilding them in new and interesting ways. His ambition to be an inventor grows stronger every year, and he is always asking me when he gets to play with ‘real’ electricity!
I had a look online at their website which promised over sixty interactive exhibits and even a friendly robot. As schools were on holiday for the next few days, I decided that I would take my son on an adventure.
Schools in Shetland have some really exciting partnerships with the University of Highland and Islands to bring science and engineering to pupils. However, most of this is aimed at older children and Rohan is only in primary two.
For a moment I felt deflated but then I had an idea. I remembered that there is a Science Centre in Aberdeen! I had a look online at their website which promised over sixty interactive exhibits and even a friendly robot. As schools were on holiday for the next few days, I decided that I would take my son on an adventure. The journey from Shetland to Aberdeen spans over 200 miles and NorthLink Ferries provide daily sailings which depart from Lerwick in the evening, arriving in Aberdeen at 7am the following morning.
“Lets go and see the cabin!” Rohan shouted as soon as we boarded the NorthLink Ferries’ ship, running up and down the corridor. I tried to steer him out of the way of other passengers and opened the door to our room for the night. Rohan unpacked his stuffed orca, tucking it carefully into the bed, chatting excitedly the whole time. With beds, a desk, a kettle and ensuite facilities, the onboard cabins are the perfect way to have a good night’s sleep and arrive at your destination feeling refreshed.
Every time we sail with NorthLink Ferries, we always spend the first part of the journey out on the deck as the boat sails past Shetland’s south mainland. Seen from the water, the shapes of the hills and beaches seem different, familiar places transformed. It was a lovely calm evening with only a slight breeze, and we stayed outside until we got hungry and returned inside to get something for dinner.
We headed to bed, ready for a good night sleep in preparation for our adventures the next day. We woke up at 6am, giving us plenty of time to pack and enjoy the delicious breakfast onboard – although there is no rush to eat as passengers can stay onboard until 9am. I like to disembark soon after arrival to make the most of the day ahead. I had booked a night in a hotel meaning we had two full days before getting the boat home.
After a much-needed coffee and some time to explore the city, it was finally time to visit Aberdeen Science Centre. We booked our time slot in the morning and Rohan eagerly went between the exhibits practicing coding, learning about circuits, chatting to the robot and experimenting with stop-motion photography – I quickly realised that we would need to return the next day.
Aberdeen Science Centre is just a short walk away from the beach and Codona’s Amusement Park. Rohan brought the contents of his piggy bank (topped up with the household penny jar!) so we had plenty change to try our luck at various games in the Arcade. There aren’t as many opportunities for such activities in Shetland, so both excitement and tensions ran high until we finally won enough tickets for Rohan to choose a prize!
For our second day in Aberdeen, we re-visited Aberdeen Science Centre followed by some shopping. Rohan took the time to pick out a present for his younger brother, Finn. He chose a stuffed turtle for him and asked me if Finn could join us for our next adventure. He requested that we should go to an aquarium as Finn loves fish. I agreed and I am currently planning this trip for them!
Before we knew it, it was time to head to the NorthLink Ferries Terminal and sail back home to Shetland. Like always, we headed straight outside to the outer deck as we departed from Aberdeen, watching the dolphins in the waves below as the city lights grew more distant. I was exhausted from our two fun and busy days in Aberdeen and reflected in amazement at just how much we managed to do in such a short period of time! It has reminded me just how easy the journey can be when travelling with NorthLink Ferries.
By Catherine MunroCatherine Munro is an author and anthropologist living in Shetland. Her work focuses on nature and human-animal relationships in the islands. She loves exploring Shetland with her children and sharing these experiences through her writing.
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