By Vicki Birmingham

An innovative partnership that will strive to ensure Tayside reaps the economic rewards from the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) sectors was officially launched at Sensation Science Centre in Dundee yesterday.

The Dundee City STEM Partnership is part of a national effort to attract talented young people to the science sector and make sure Scotland can compete with the best companies in the world.

The partnership, the first of its kind in Scotland, actually began 15 months ago as a small informal group of individuals with ambitious ideas for promoting science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

It has since grown into the successful body of organisations who aspire to raise awareness of the importance of STEM and provide a coherent approach to future activities in the Tayside area.

Professor Sir Philip Cohen of Dundee University, who was recently appointed patron of the Dundee City STEM Partnership, delivered the keynote speech at the launch during which he stressed “the importance of making science accessible and exciting to the public.”

Invited guests and dignitaries also had the chance to preview some of the activities in which the partnership is involved, which in the past were uncoordinated but will now have central focus thanks to the initiative.

Ralph Harrison of Scottish Enterprise Tayside and chairman of the STEM partnership, said, “Tayside has already built a strong international reputation in the areas of biotechnology and digital media and if we are to see these sectors, and those of engineering and mathematics continue to grow, then the groundwork has to be put in place for the future.

“We need to ensure young people are actively seeking out opportunities involved in STEM as an exciting and viable career path.

“The competition for Scottish business is no longer confined to the UK or Europe but is now on a global scale. As a result we need to be far-sighted and cannot be slow off the mark.

“The Dundee City STEM Partnership responds to these forces and by igniting the imagination of young people towards these sectors we in turn can expect the already excellent reputation of Tayside to grow and grow.”

The launch coincides with Science in September, a mini-science festival organised by the partnership, which began at Clepington Primary School in Dundee yesterday and is expected to reach over 2000 primary pupils throughout the month.

Other STEM activities that are being offered to school pupils and teachers include Spring into Science, Chemistry at Work, Science Summer School and the Wellgate Science Spectacular.

Lesley Robertson, STEM co-ordinator said, “The Dundee City STEM Partnership is an outstanding and dynamic project whose current success exemplifies the role that collaboration and communication can play in STEM promotion, encouraging people to engage with STEM and raising their awareness of its importance within everyday life.”