National Museums Scotland and the ScottishPower Foundation are leading a new project

Schools and community groups are to get an insight into the world of science through their local museums.

A new outreach initiative led by National Museums Scotland and supported by the ScottishPower Foundation, will see experts bring science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) subjects to life.

Powering Up is a programme of science engagement workshops for school pupils in their own communities and inspired by Scotland's incredible national musuem collections.

The project aims to instil knowledge of the energy sector and encourage Scottish students to consider taking subjects that will lead to a STEM-related career.

The ScottishPower Foundation is supporting the project with a grant of £150,000.

Foundation executive officer and trustee Ann McKechin launched the initiative at the New Lanark Heritage Site on Friday 3 November with students from St Elizabeth's Primary School in Hamilton.

She said: “The ScottishPower Foundation's work with National Museums Scotland enables us to reach young people looking for advice on their career, helping to instil a passion for learning and hopefully a desire to enter into the STEM sector.

''The project will also help students living in some of Scotland’s harder-to-reach communities access and be educated by some of the country's most fascinating inventions and innovations. By engaging with young people through a visionary project such as this, we aim to ultimately create a nation of innovators and inventors.”