ABERDEEN Science Centre (ASC) has appointed the head of Gordon Highlanders Museum as its new chief executive to lead the soon-to-be redeveloped facility.
The £6 million centre, which is due to open next year, will see Bryan Snelling take the helm following his five-year tenure at Aberdeen’s only current VisitScotland five-star attraction.
In his previous role, Snelling delivered a successful fundraising campaign, generating £300,000 to safeguard the museum’s future. He recently secured a World War One Trench exhibit which helped deliver a 50% increase in visitors to the venue.
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Sandy Morton, of the board of trustees of Aberdeen Science Centre, said: “We are absolutely thrilled to welcome Bryan to Aberdeen Science Centre. Bryan’s primary focus will be ensuring the new centre reflects the STEM [science, technology, engineering and maths] agenda of the future. He has a wealth of experience in the tourism industry and a real passion for shaping the new centre into a major attraction for local, national and international visitors to the city, driving our lifetime with science agenda.
“Bryan joins the organisation at a very exciting and crucial time as we look ahead to the opening of the redeveloped centre in summer 2020. A key strategic goal is to make use of the very latest technology and work with industry partners to bring science to life for many generations of visitors.”
Snelling will take over from ASC’s current chief executive, Liz Hodge, who is to retire from the role in December but will continue to oversee the delivery of the redevelopment project through to its completion in summer 2020.
Snelling said: “Aberdeen Science Centre has a special place in the hearts of many across the North East and I, like many others, have been following its redevelopment with much interest and anticipation.
“I’m excited about the role and look forward to contributing to the centre’s vibrant future, with the ambition of making it the city’s second Visit Scotland five-star visitor attraction.”
The centre has moved to temporary accommodation at 107 George Street to allow visitors to continue to enjoy interactive exhibits and topical science events while the refurbishment work is carried out at the old granite Tramsheds on Constitution Street.
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The redevelopment will totally revitalise and transform the science centre through the installation of many new exhibits in the expanded exhibition areas and corporate space, reflecting the key priorities of the STEM agenda for both education and industry.
The transformation will include an extension and creation of a new mezzanine floor – almost doubling the exhibition space – and exposing the roof structure to allow natural light to flood into the building. It will also include major investment in new, state-of-the-art exhibits.
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