Wirral's new £11.4m attraction, Eureka! Science and Discovery, has opened its doors to the public.
The centre aims to educate young people about science, technology, engineering, arts and maths (STEAM) and is home to exhibits including a 12 foot tall cat and giant climbing tree. Eureka! is situated in Wallasey and is set in one of the Mersey Ferries terminals.
The attraction offers a range of interactive activities and exhibits for visitors to enjoy, including sections exploring the human body, low carbon technologies and the environmental impact of fast fashion. Eureka! has been co-created in close partnership with 120 children and young people from the local area, with support from renewable energies firm and funding partner, Ørsted to help influence the questions and issues it will explore.
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There is also Make Create, a space where imagination and innovation combine to allow visitors to get creative. A phase two opening of the Discovery Café and The Burrow, a dedicated exhibition area for younger visitors, will be launched after Christmas.
The new £11.4m attraction has received funding from both public and private sector donations, including £6.4m from Mayor Steve Rotheram and the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority’s Strategic Investment Fund, and a £3m investment from the Wellcome Trust/UKRIs ‘Inspiring Science Fund’.
Eureka! plays an important role in supporting the Liverpool City Region achieve its inclusive growth and education ambitions by engaging young people in STEAM subjects in new ways.
Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, Steve Rotheram, said: "Our area has established itself as an international tourist destination for a reason: because we offer our visitors an experience unlike anywhere else in the country. Eureka!'s arrival will bring another fascinating new addition to our offer.
"What was a tired and underused space will be replaced by a fresh, interesting and interactive new attraction for all the family, thanks in part to £6.4m of funding from the Combined Authority. It is just a part of our wider plans to revitalise Birkenhead and the Left Bank area.
""As someone who is passionate about skills and technical subjects, I’m delighted to see that Eureka! Science + Discovery will be putting a special emphasis on STEAM subjects, introducing our region’s young people to topics like life sciences, digital innovation and green technology in a fun and refreshing way.
“We want to inspire our youngsters, especially young women, to explore the opportunities out there for them and help to address some of the gender imbalances that exist in these sectors, and I can think of no place better for them to start that journey than here in the Liverpool City Region. With some of the world's leading clusters of innovation in science, technology and AI right on our doorstep, our area is a natural fit. Who knows how many engineers and scientists of the future might be inspired by their visits?”
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