OREANDA-NEWS. December 15, 2015. Visitors to Glasgow Science Centre can now feel the force of wind in a hurricane booth, generate power in a dance-off and demonstrate nuclear fission by setting off a box of mouse traps with a ping pong ball, following the opening this week of the new Powering the Future exhibition.

The ?1.5m exhibition shines a spotlight on the science and technology underpinning the future of energy and is expected to welcome more than 1.8 million visitors during its five-year life span. Through a collection of 60 fun and engaging exhibits, visitors will be encouraged to consider how we can meet increasing energy demand reliably, at an acceptable economic and environmental cost.

Glasgow Science Centre has gathered support from all sectors of the energy industry, including SSE which contributed ?150,000 towards it along with some exhibits. Other partners include policy makers and government agencies. It is the first time that the energy industry has come together in this way to present unbiased information which highlights the challenges we face with energy supply in the future.

Dr Stephen Breslin, Chief Executive of the Glasgow Science Centre said: “As the world’s leaders meet in Paris to discuss Climate Change, we are launching Powering the Future – an exhibition that brings to life how relevant this global event is to each individual. Scotland is already demonstrating how renewable energy generation will play a vital role in our future power generation mix and this exhibition will help raise awareness of the energy challenges we are facing, the science behind power generation and the role that we all have in creating a sustainable energy future.

“The Powering the Future exhibition has taken years of planning and we are really excited the time has come for us to open the exhibition to our visitors. It is one of the most ambitious exhibitions of its type ever staged in the UK and will help the public recognise the challenges we face with energy supply and the need for an energy mix.

“It is exciting that Powering the Future has had cross-industry support and the public will now have access to an exhibition which will help them form their opinions, and hopefully encourage the next generation to consider a career in the energy industry. Reinforcing the importance of the role that young people have to play in addressing and taking on the challenges we face in energy supply cannot be over emphasised.”

Launching the new exhibition, Fergus Ewing, Scotland’s Minister for Business, Energy & Tourism, said: “Powering the Future highlights the issues that affect each and every one of us, young and old, and this exhibition helps to make science accessible and fun. We need to inspire our next generation of scientists and engineers who will contribute to finding long-term solutions to our energy needs as we change the way we produce and use our energy.”

Michelle Hynd, SSE’s Director of Corporate Infrastructure and Development said: “We’re very excited about partnering with the Glasgow Science Centre to support such an important exhibition, which will allow people of all ages to engage with energy in a different way and understand the magic behind it.

“Within the energy industry SSE is not alone in recognising the value of recruiting future talent and initiatives such as Powering the Future are a great way to inspire the engineers of the future and, hopefully, convince them to consider a career in our sector.”

Exhibition partners include SSE, the Scottish Government, oil and gas industry skills organisation OPITO, Scottish Enterprise, SSE, Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, National Grid, EDF Energy, Skills Development Scotland, Scottish Power Energy Network and Doosan Babcock.