It was just too big a risk: Caithness science festival postponed until March
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The threat of strike action by school staff has led to the postponement of this year's Caithness International Science Festival.
It had been due to start next Monday, culminating in a family fun day on Saturday, September 30, but is instead being rescheduled for March 2024.
The festival is run by Science03 and centred around local schools. Last year's fun day attracted more than 1500 visitors to Wick High.
With the possibility of industrial action during three days of the intended festival week, organisers decided to postpone it rather than risk being left out of pocket.
Professor Iain Baikie, chairman of the festival, explained: "The main organiser is Nicola Macleod and she realised that there was a risk the schools were going to close because of the strike.
"It's a £30,000 festival so if there was a strike we would have no money. We would be taking everybody up to Caithness for the festival and if there was a strike it would be a wipe-out, so it was just too big a risk.
"We have all the school activities and then we have the family fun day for the public. Because we thought that the chance of strike action was very high, we just couldn't risk the funding.
"Nicola was doing all the work and all the programming so we were at a very advanced position. It was just pragmatic."
The festival began in 2003 and has grown into one of the largest annual events in the county. It showcases the diverse nature of science, technology, engineering, art and maths and celebrates how Caithness contributes to these disciplines, as well as welcoming presenters, lecturers and visiting science centres from across the UK and the rest of the world.
"It's not just about science," Prof Baikie said. "The teachers like it and the kids love it. We try to do so many hands-on activities.
"A lot of energy comes to Caithness and it has been a good platform to get good speakers, a range of different people.
"The family fun day allows the public to mix with a lot of people, including locals who have interesting careers or have a hobby, as well as professionals, so I think it's the mix that does it."
He added: "To have run for 21 years, we're grateful for all the funding."
The rescheduling to next spring represents a return to the festival's pre-Covid slot in the calendar. The family fun day is now due on Saturday, March 23, 2024.
In January the Scottish Government awarded £10,000 towards the festival. The grant was part of a range of funding to promote the benefits of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) among school pupils.
