Ideas Studio – Curious About Innovation

all ages
Design
Materials

Marvellous Materials

MathWorks: Join Ross as he learns what materials are and how they can be useful. Then help Ross and Claire reduce waste materials by creating useful objects from old plastic bottles.

11 and over
Industry
Materials
Our Planet

Meet the Scientist: Dr. Tracy White, CuanTec

Meet Dr Tracy White from CuanTec to find out more about bioplastics and skills essential for science.

8 and over
Industry
Materials
Our Planet

Cookie Mining

Mining the earth for useful rocks and minerals is no easy tasks. Take on the challenge and set up your own Cookie Mine, balancing budget and environmental impact.

8 and over
Climate Change
Materials
Our Planet

Rock Powered Planet: Mining, Recycling and Sustainability

Rocks and minerals are vital for technology including smartphones, wind turbines and solar panels, but do we really have enough supply to meet the growing demand?

8 and over
Engineering
Materials
Our Planet

Your Rock Powered Smartphone

What’s the connection between a volcano and a touch screen? Learn about the rocks and minerals that make up smartphones and how things need to change so we can keep up with the growing demand.

8 and over
Design
Engineering
Materials

If you were an engineer, what would you do?

Design a solution to a real-life problem and learn about Engineering careers, from an actual Engineer, by taking part in this exciting annual competition.

8 and over
Climate Change
Materials
Our Planet

Rock Powered Planet: Going Green

Learn how rocks and minerals from the earth are a vital part of going green, as we move away from harmful fossil fuels.

11 and over
Industry
Materials
Our Planet

Rare Earth Minerals Happy Families

Rare Earth Elements (REE) are vital in our new technologies from smart phones to wind turbines. It's important that these elements are responsibly sourced. Play Rare Earth Minerals Happy Families to discover more about these elements.

8 and over
Industry
Materials
Our Planet

Rare Earth Deposits Top Trumps

Rare Earth Elements (REE) are used in many modern technologies from computers and smart phones to wind turbines and low energy lighting. Discover more about Rare Earth Elements as you play Rare Earth Deposits Top Trumps.

8 and over
Materials

Urban Mining

That junk drawer might be a cause of shame to many of us, but in this episode of 'A Spark of Science' find out how the contents could go on to have a new life...

8 and over
Materials
Our Planet

Potato Bioplastics

Plastic from potatoes? Is it possible? Find out more about research into biopolymers and sustainable plastics.

11 and over
Materials
Our Planet

Smart Sustainable Plastic Packaging

Plastic waste is a worldwide issue, find out how scientists from The University of Strathclyde are working to develop Smart Sustainable Plastic Packaging.

11 and over
Materials
Our Planet

Football Pitch Microplastics

You may not realise it but the little bits of black plastic you find in your shoes after playing football on an artificial pitch are a microplastic and can harm the environment.

13 and over
Materials
Our Planet

Forever Chemicals – What are they and what can we do about them?

Dr Kerry Dinsmore explains the persistent problem with PFAS, and how this group of harmful industrial chemicals are replacing plastic as we rush to find sustainable alternatives to food packaging.

8 and over
Design
Engineering
Materials

Glasgow Tower Uncovered

Join us for a tour of the Glasgow Tower, part of Glasgow’s unique skyline since 2001. It is the tallest tower in Scotland, and it holds the Guinness World Record for the only tower in the world that can fully rotate.

11 and over
Industry
Materials
Our Planet

Climate Innovations: Bioplastics

We meet Dr Tracy White, from CuanTec to investigate how innovation in biotechnology can reduce plastic pollution and food waste.