Scottish Water and Science Centres Partner for Water Cycle Workshops Third Year

“Through hands-on STEM learning, the Water Cycle Workshop helps young people build curiosity, confidence and skills linked to water, sustainability and future careers.”

Alex Plant
CEO, Scottish Water

The Water Cycle Workshop for children is back for its third year as part of Scottish Water's Generation H20 education programme.

We're back in partnership with Aberdeen Science Centre, Glasgow Science Centre, Dundee Science Centre, Dynamic Earth in Edinburgh and the Science Skills Academy, to deliver the fun, interactive lesson 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 education partners to widen its reach and impact.

It's also a positive legacy of our Annual Consultation Meetings (ACM) and a milestone for our Generation H2O free education programme, which has reached more than 100,000 pupils across Scotland, helping young people understand water, sustainability and the role they can play in water conservation.

Now, 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 to guide young people to become more responsible with their water use, recognising the importance of conserving and protecting such a precious natural resource, whilst teaching vital STEM skills.

It allows children in P5 to P7 classes across the country to dive into the fascinating world of water, exploring 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% of all engagements will be for children living in the top 20% 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 an in-reach 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% said they learned something new through the sessions, while more than three-quarters said it increased their knowledge of ways to save water.

Steph McCann, head of fundraising at Aberdeen Science Centre, said: “We are proud to continue our collaboration with Scottish Water and the other partners across Scotland for the third year of the fantastic Water Cycle Workshop programme. We hope that through these sessions we can reach more children throughout the country than ever before and make a lasting impact on our use and consumption of water.”

Dr Stephen Breslin, Chief Executive Officer at Glasgow Science Centre, said: “The success of the Water Cycle workshops has demonstrated the power of collaboration in bringing science to life for young people across Scotland."

Conor Ellis, Dynamic Earth’s Science Learning and Engagement Director, said: “Partnering with Scottish Water and our fellow Science Centres creates opportunities for young people across the whole of Scotland to access impactful learning around water citizenship; a vital opportunity to support a sustainable future for a planet under pressure."

Jennifer Banks, senior STEM engagement officer with the Science Skills Academy, said: "The Water Cycle Workshop continues to be a huge hit with pupils and teachers across the Highlands and Islands. Through hands-on activities, young people gain a better understanding of the value of water and the work involved in keeping this vital resource clean, safe and sustainable."

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.