This series is supported by Bluewater Private Equity and is part of our Blueprint Challenge: A Future High Street project.
For this series, our podcast host Arushi Rastogi talks with a Net Zero Consultant Dr Gillian White, an Urban Designer Dr Quazi Zaman, a consultant psychiatrist Dr Olga Runcie and transport and sustainability researcher Dr Kate Pangbourne about how bringing energy, architecture, technology and nature together we can create a high street of the future that employs innovative technologies and mechanisms in the drive towards net-zero.
LISTEN TO THE EPISODE ON THE FOLLOWING PLATFORMS
LISTEN TO THE EPISODE ON THE FOLLOWING PLATFORMS
LISTEN TO THE EPISODE ON THE FOLLOWING PLATFORMS
LISTEN TO THE EPISODE ON THE FOLLOWING PLATFORMS
Congratulations to all the students who took part in Blueprint Challenge: A Future Highstreet 2023!
About TechFest’s Blueprint Challenge: A Future High Street Competition
The city High street plays a unique and fundamental role in today's society. More than just a place to shop, the high street is also an area of cultural, social and economic importance. However, it is a sad fact that most high streets are poorly equipped to address the threats that urbanisation places on natural resources, ecosystems and the climate. If left unchecked, this places a very real threat on our overall wellbeing and the future of our planet. We must work together as champions of nature to create urban spaces that work for both people and the planet in order to ensure their long-term viability.
Imagine a high street where buying your favorite products leads to more nature, not less, where natural wealth is celebrated and economy thrives, where the air you breath is pure and fresh, and birdsong no longer competes with traffic.
For the Blueprint Challenge: A Future High Street project, TechFest, supported by Bluewater, challenged S3 - S6 students to design a high street and create a space that allows society to thrive whilst simultaneously celebrating the natural world.
This project spans a range of different disciplines (engineering, architecture, art and design, health and wellbeing, etc.), and as such we recommended that students create diverse teams showcasing different skill sets. By bringing energy, technology and nature together there is the opportunity to create a high street that employs innovative technologies and mechanisms in the drive towards net-zero, nature-positive urban areas.
2023 competition winners
1st place: Las Chicas team from Oldmachar Academy, Aberdeen
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2nd place: CBGKS team from Mearns Academy, Laurencekirk
The Creativity Award went to: Streets Revive Team from Morgan Academy, Dundee
Highly Commended nomination: OLSP LfS, Our Lady & St Patrick's High School, Dumbarton
Congratulations to all the winners!
For any queries related to this project, please contact Gabija Blazyte at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Aberdeen Science Centre and TechFest support and deliver STEM education across the North-East of Scotland and beyond. In 2023 we launched the first ever STEM Youth Board in Scotland. STEM Youth Board members have been successfully working with both organisations to ensure STEM activities, programmes and events have appropriate input from one of our more significant demographics making delivery more relevant and peer led.
Registration to join the STEM Youth Board for 2024- 2025 is now closed.
The STEM Youth Board
Participants on the STEM Youth Board
The Person Specification for participating in the STEM Youth Board
Lengh of service
A member may remain on the STEM Youth Board for a maximum of 2 years.
Potential stakeholders
Whilst the STEM Youth Board will be a shared project that is run and delivered by Aberdeen Science Centre and TechFest, there will be a number of potential stakeholders who could be invited by the Youth Board to support the initiative. The following is neither an exhaustive list nor will all be invited to participate:
If you have any questions, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Looking for other opportunities, don’t forget to check out ABZ works here.
Supported by
TechFest's STEM In The Park, sponsored by TAQA has been desgined to engage all ages in science activities that are done in parks by utilising teamwork, creativity and most of all having fun while learning.
This project is sponsoder by
If you are passionate about promoting STEM, enthusiastic about events or enjoy working with children, then TechFest has a variety of opportunities for you to get involved with!
How to register for volunteering;
To find out more about volunteering please contact Yashka Smith on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
PVG Scheme
TechFest supports the PVG scheme for all volunteers either as a STEM ambassador or through TechFest for in person volunteering. Your PVG records will be kept on file for 7 years. TechFest’s basis for keeping this information on file will be legitimate interest. There is no cost to yourself for joining the scheme as a volunteer for TechFest. Once you have registered your interest in volunteering with TechFest we will contact you with further details to join the PVG scheme if appropriate.
If you would like any further details regarding volunteering please contact Yashka Smith This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
In this TechFest Talks series, girls who are part of the Girls in Energy programme, interview professionals from the Energy industry.
During these interviews, young women have a chance to ask questions about the industry and build new skills and knowledge to help their future careers in the energy industry.
LISTEN TO THE EPISODE ON THE FOLLOWING PLATFORMS
LISTEN TO THE EPISODE ON THE FOLLOWING PLATFORMS
LISTEN TO THE EPISODE ON THE FOLLOWING PLATFORMS
The Mockcop 26 event was the last stop of The DGA Roadshow 2021 that travelled across the UK. It took place in October at the Aberdeen Science Centre's Shell Learning Zone. Pupils from Hazlehead Academy and Oldmachar Academy then got the opportunity in December 2021 to take on the role of world leaders and climate experts at a mock COP26 event.
Inspired by the Mockcop 26 event we continue to spread awareness about the energy transition and its role in climate change. Taking place in the Town and County Hall in Aberdeen, the event explains the aims and objectives of COP26 to the students, emphasising how the energy transition is an integral part of the discussions on climate change and how as the next generation, youngsters have a unique role to influence and persuade world leaders to make important changes.
Pupils from across Aberdeen got the opportunity in March 2022 to take on the role of world leaders and climate experts at a mock COP26 event.
Watch the interview with them below:
Student feedback:
''Really great but needs to happen more. Feel there is not enough of these events''
''I enjoyed thinking of ways to fix the climate''
''I enjoyed the group exercises being mixed into different groups with different people''
''Very well organised and engaging''
''I enjoyed working in groups and being able to share my opinion''
Check out our Event Listing page to see our upcoming events.
This project is kindly supported by:
TechFest Talks hosts continue to interview industry professionals from various
industries and learn more about their jobs, challenges they meet at work and exciting projects they work on!
We have collaborated with organizations such as Sound, Scottish Care as well as
renowned polar explorer Antony Jinman and more!
Simply click on your favourite podcast platform icon to listen.
LISTEN TO THE EPISODE ON THE FOLLOWING PLATFORMS
Find out more about Cyber Security Basics here.
LISTEN TO THE EPISODE ON THE FOLLOWING PLATFORMS
LISTEN TO THE EPISODE ON THE FOLLOWING PLATFORMS
LISTEN TO THE EPISODE ON THE FOLLOWING PLATFORMS
LISTEN TO THE EPISODE ON THE FOLLOWING PLATFORMS
LISTEN TO THE EPISODE ON THE FOLLOWING PLATFORMS
Welcome to TechFest Talks - A Podcast by Students for Students.
TechFest Talks was launched in 2021 and has been produced by students, for students.
This project is designed to engage and inspire students of all ages to find out about their interests and desired career paths.
In each episode students from across the UK interview industry professionals from various sectors.
This allows the hosting students as well as the listeners to find out as much information about their desired careers as possible.
Click here to read an article about TechFest Talks featuring in ACVO's News.
Listen to the Space into Energy edition.
Listen to the Girls in Energy edition.
Listen to the Scottish Careers Week edition.
Listen to the Explorathon'21 edition.
Listen to the More Talks edition.
Listen to the Blueprint Challenge edition.
Watch student testimonials and learn more about TechFest Talks.
If you're a student and would like to become one of the TechFest Talks hosts, drop Gabi an email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Interested in supporting this project? Please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
