PRESS RELEASE

October 16th, 2008

Rich heritage of science set to continue

Greenock and Inverclyde MSP Duncan McNeil is delighted that school pupils are to receive lottery funds to remember world famous inventor James Watt.

The Heritage Lottery Fund has announced a grant of £43,600 to an exciting project which will allow 300 primary school children in Inverclyde to explore and celebrate the life of the Greenock-born engineer.

The ‘James Watt -Head of Steam’ project is set to revitalise a sense of connection and civic pride in the life and legacy of James Watt, whose improvements to the steam engine were fundamental to the changes brought about by the Industrial Revolution.

Children will be involved in exploring the science behind his work in a ‘James Watt laboratory’ and learning more about his life and the society and customs of the 18th century through workshops in drama, dance and visual arts.

Working with Inverclyde Council, Scottish Opera and James Watt College, and Riverside Inverclyde, material generated by the young people will feed into the creation of a new opera and exhibition which will be performed in June next year to tie in with the Enlightenment strand of Homecoming 2009.

Duncan McNeil, MSP for the area, said: "This is very welcome news for the area - we have a rich heritage in science and engineering because of James Watt's contribution to the world and this shows just how important that still is today.

"I have the opportunity of visiting one of our local schools, Greenock Academy, next week to see for myself how our pupils are carrying on that tradition by learning about science."

ENDS