Maths into Hydrogen is a day where students get the chance to learn about how we can use Hydrogen, the most abundant element in our universe, to power our homes, cars, and schools.
The students work in teams to work through mathematical problems within the current energy industry, and calculate the energy requirements for a village. They learn about the infrastructure required, make their own Hydrogen gas with an electrolysis experiment, and put into practise how a Hydrogen fuel cell works to power our vehicles. With all of this in mind, they use a map of the village to plan where the facilities should be built so that the village can produce enough and sustainably run off green Hydrogen.
Maths into Hydrogen was kindly sponsored by bp and hosted by OEUK.
Quotes from Pupils:
“It's more enjoyable than expected while on the topic of maths, physics & chemistry” – Lochside Pupil
“My awareness of careers within the energy industry was raised by a lot” – Lochside Pupil
Make sure to sign up to our mailing list to find out when these events are open to nominations for your school!
Maths into Wind is a great day where students can delve into the specifics of how wind turbines work and what factors affect the electrical energy output. They students are in groups of up to 6 pupils and in their teams will use maths to calculate the energy requirement for a village, and then get hands on with an experiment to determine the factors which influence the electricity production from a wind turbine.
Through mathematical analysis and experimentation, the teams are tasked with coming up with a solution to power the village using wind turbines, taking into consideration the size of the turbines; the land required for each turbine; and where these would be positioned in the village.
Maths into Wind was kindly sponsored by Stromar and hosted by Fraserburgh College.
Quotes from Pupils:
“The wind turbine experiment showing the blades and windspeed, I also liked the tour of NESCOL, as it shows what's at my college” – Fraserburgh Pupil
“I have learnt a lot today about wind turbines and I loved it” – Fraserburgh Pupil
Make sure to sign up to our mailing list to find out when these events are open to nominations for your school!
Maths into the Energy Mix is an exciting day where groups of up to 6 students will spend the day working through mathematical challenges associated with different energy sources.
Pupils are tasked with calculating the energy required for the fictional village, and working on solutions for how the village can meet the energy demand using what is feasible when taking into consideration the environment, finance, and what infrastructure would be accepted by the village.
We were delighted to run two Maths into the Energy Mix events in the 2025 spring term, one sponsored and hosted by Emerson and the other sponsored by SPE hosted at OEUK.
Quotes from pupils;
“It was fun how we worked together with people we didn't know before to get 1 plan using different ideas” – Lochside Pupil
“The activities were fun and had stuff to do which I enjoyed. I liked how it was broken up and wasn't just someone speaking the whole time.” – Banchory Pupil
“I found it very informative there was lots of new things I learnt today and I loved how hands on it was” – Fraserburgh Pupil
Make sure to sign up to our mailing list to find out when these events are open to nominations for your school!
TechFest and the Rowett Institute are delighted to be an official livestream venue for this year’s Christmas Lectures from the Royal Institution.
Join us to watch the lectures come to life in real time, and be the first to discover the truth about food from Dr Chris van Tulleken.
This event is perfect for all the family - children and people of all ages can come and watch the magic of the Lectures unfold in real time as they’re filmed in front of an audience in the Ri’s Theatre in London. They’ll have the chance to get involved with hands-on activities and be the first to learn the truth about food before the 2024 CHRISTMAS LECTURES are broadcast on BBC Four and iPlayer in late December.
This year’s speaker, Dr Chris Van Tulleken, is a NHS doctor, author and experienced science communicator and it proves to be an entertaining evening with fact fuelled demos, guest appearances and festive food hacks. Chris will investigate how food has fundamentally shaped human evolution, uncovers the importance of our microbiome – as the extra ‘organ’ we didn’t know we had – and asks how we can all eat better in future, for the sake of our own health and the health of the planet.
Event Information
Doors open at 5:15 – Interactive activities with scientists from Rowett Institute
6pm – 8pm ; Live stream from London
This event is suitable for age 11+, adults, teens and student audiences. Please note under 16s must be accompanied by an adult.
Frequently asked questions
What age range are the CHRISTMAS LECTURES suitable for?
The CHRISTMAS LECTURES are aimed at an audience of 11-17 year olds, however they are accessible for people of all ages and all levels of scientific knowledge. They are typically watched by families together – a Christmas family tradition on the BBC.
Will Professor Dr Chris van Tulleken be there in person?
No Dr Chris van Tulleken will not be present in person, but you will be able to watch his presentations via the livestream on the big screen.
Will you get to see the behind the scenes of the RI Christmas lectures?
Yes, you will get full access to behind the scenes and watch the Royal Institute as they film the Christmas Lecture live from their Historic Theatre in London
Do I have to come to both talks?
No each session stands alone but you are welcome to come to as many as you wish.
When does the event start?
Doors will open at 5.15pm where you can grab a bite to eat with refreshments being served. Seated for 6pm at the start of the livestream.
Will there be a chance to meet any researchers?
Yes we are delighted to be partnering with the Rowett Institute. University researchers will showcase their work throughout the evening giving members of the public a chance to interact with their exhibits and ask questions.
Where is the event taking place?
Both Christmas Lectures will be live streamed from the Rowett Institute, Foresterhill Campus, Ashgrove Rd W, Aberdeen AB25 2ZD
How to do I find the Rowett Institute on the Foresterhill Campus?
Driving
Entering the city from the south or west, follow signs for the A90 (Fraserburgh and Peterhead). This leads round the ring road (Anderson Drive). Exit right (A9011) onto Ashgrove Road West, continue beyond the junction with Foresterhill Road, then turn right on to Cornhill Road when the bus turning area is close to the Medical School car park. From the north, Foresterhill is approached via the A96 (from Dyce and Inverness) and the A90 (from Peterhead) and thence to the A90 (North) Anderson Drive.
Foresterhill Postcode: AB25 2ZD GPS: Lat: 57:09:23N (57.15634), Lon: 2:08:05W (-2.1346) Grid Ref: NJ919072
Parking after 5pm is free on the Foresterhill Campus.
Public transport
Numbers 3/3A/3B/3S will take you from Guild Street (near Aberdeen Bus and Train stations) to the main entrance of Aberdeen Royal Infirmary on Foresterhill Road.
Number 23 will take you from Union Street to Harcourt Road Stop, a 10-minute walk away from Aberdeen Royal Infirmary and the Foresterhill Campus.
Nearest Stops to Foresterhill Campus
You can also use the Stagecoach service from Guild Street or Union Square Bus station to the main entrance of Aberdeen Royal Infirmary on Foresterhill Road.
When will the CHRISTMAS LECTURES be on tv?
The 2024 CHRISTMAS LECTURES to be broadcast on BBC Four and iPlayer in late December. Exact broadcast details will be confirmed when the BBC announce their Christmas schedules in early December.
How can I watch past CHRISTMAS LECTURES?
You can watch our archive of Christmas lectures here on the RI’s website: https://www.rigb.org/christmas-lectures/watch-royal-institution-christmas-lectures-archive
Welcome to TechFest Talks, Space into Energy Edition!
In this series students talk with professionals from the energy and space sectors and discover the exciting world of STEM - science, technology, engineering, mathematics.
Click on your favourite podcast platform icon to listen.
LISTEN TO THE EPISODE ON THE FOLLOWING PLATFORMS
LISTEN TO THE EPISODE ON THE FOLLOWING PLATFORMS
Learn more about Space Into Energy project.
As the nights draw in and the weather is dreich, you can still enjoy the wonder of TechFest without setting a foot outdoors.
Join like-minded people from around the world for the Scotland’s Digital Science Festival and participate in a myriad of activities and presentations from the comfort of your own armchair.
All events are FREE to attend, except for the thrilling Locked Room game. Registration is required for all events.
Just click the ‘Book Now’ button next to your chosen event to secure your spot today.
With faster technological advancements and the continued rise of the digital age, many employers are looking for candidates who have a passion for innovation.
TechFest’s ‘STEM into Innovation’, supported by the NCR Foundation, takes students on an exploration into product design and development, while putting their STEM skills to the test!
Ignite Young Minds with Our Online Innovation Masterclasses!
Calling all curious creators and future changemakers! We're inviting S1–S3 students (ages 12–15) from across Scotland to take part in our exciting online Innovation Masterclasses—a unique opportunity to explore the cutting edge of creativity, technology, and enterprise.
Led by industry experts and academic leaders, these interactive sessions will dive into fascinating topics like How Algorithms Control Your Feelings and Actions, the future of manufacturing, and the spirit of entrepreneurship. Whether your students are tech enthusiasts, budding business minds, or just eager to explore something new—there’s something here to spark every imagination. View the programme.
Available Masterclasses - All Masterclasses are FREE to attend!
Available masterclasses: teachers may register for the masterclasses they would like their students to attend. There is no limit how many masterclasses you can attend.
Masterclass 1: Real-world impacts of AI & Social Media with John NA Brown, Robert Gordon University School of Computing
Date: Tuesday, 6th May | Time: 11:00 - 11:45
Masterclass 2: Sustainable Super-Materials at NMIS with Kirsty Pinnell, National Manufacturing Institute Scotland
Date: Thursday, 8th May | Time: 11:00 - 11:45
Masterclass 3: Your Path to Entrepreneurship with Edward Pollock, Acceleration Manager, Net Zero Technology Centre
Date: Wednesday, 14th May | Time: 11:00 - 11:45 | Register: here
For any questions, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
TechFest were kindly awarded a grant from the Justtransition Fund to create our EnergyXplorer Toolkit. This toolkit has allowed us to keep on doing some of our most popular workshops based around renewable energy, as well as develop new and exciting activities as our energy mix changes with time. Check out this link for a summary of where this EnergyXplorer Toolkit has been used already this year, and get excited for our new and upcoming workshops featuring the power of Hydrogen!
Aberdeen Science Festival Powered by TechFest is back this September 2025, and this year we aim to be bigger, bolder, and more mind-blowing than ever!
Festival dates: 20 - 27 September across various location in Aberdeen City.
Join our mailing list to be the first to find out latest updates.
if you have any questions please contact us on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
View Aberdeen Science Festival 2024 programme of events below
