Scottish Water and science centres partner for third year of water-cycle workshops

Scottish Water, in partnership with Aberdeen Science Centre, Glasgow Science Centre, Dundee Science Centre, Dynamic Earth and the Science Skills Academy, has launched the third year of its Water Cycle Workshop, designed to encourage children across Scotland to become responsible water citizens.

The Water Cycle Workshop was first developed in 2024 in collaboration with Aberdeen Science Centre, before being significantly expanded for its second iteration in 2025, which brought in further STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) education partners to widen its reach and impact.

Now in its third year, Scottish Water wants to bring the fun and educational workshop to more children than ever before, aiming to reach over 2,600 children across the next 10 months, bringing the total of young people engaged to 5,020.

The initiative has been designed with the purpose of guiding young people to become more responsible with their use of water, recognising the importance of conserving and protecting such a precious natural resource, whilst teaching vital STEM skills.

The Water Cycle Workshop will allow children in P5 to P7 classes across the country to  explore the different stages of the water cycle. Children will also learn about the process involved in getting safe drinking water into Scottish homes by creating their own water filters to treat dirty water.

Aberdeen Science Centre has been pivotal in leading and managing the continued expansion of the Water Cycle project and is responsible for training project partners in the delivery, evaluation and follow-up of the Water Cycle Workshop.   

As part of the Scotland-wide collaboration, 50 per cent of all engagements will be for children living in the top 20 per cent most deprived areas in the country, living in remote small towns or rural areas or from underrepresented groups.

Aberdeen Science Centre will engage 500 children through local school visits and outreach sessions, and Glasgow Science Centre will welcome a further 600 children on site. In Dundee, 600 local children will take part, starting with an outreach before a follow-up trip to the centre itself, while at Dynamic Earth, 500 children will combine the workshop with a wider day of activities during a visit.

The Science Skills Academy will also deliver the workshop to 400 school pupils throughout the Highlands and Islands.

Alex Plant, chief executive of Scottish Water, said: “Renewing our partnership with Scotland’s science centres is a powerful way to inspire the next generation to value water and understand the role they can play as responsible water citizens. 

“Through hands-on STEM learning, the Water Cycle Workshop helps young people build curiosity, confidence and skills linked to water, sustainability and future careers. It also brings our social-value strategy to life – using partnership to create lasting benefits for people, places and the planet across Scotland.”

More than 2,400 school pupils across Scotland were engaged with the Water Cycle Workshop during its 2025/26 delivery, and 82 per cent said they learned something new through the sessions, while more than three quarters said it increased their knowledge of ways to save water.

The Water Cycle Workshop content is aligned with related Scottish Curriculum for Excellence experiences and outcomes and includes information on careers in the water industry. 

www.scottishwater.co.uk