251 August 2015 - Gryffe Advertizer

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Mission Discovery Gets Ready
To Blast Off
Nearly 200 young people from Renfrewshire are preparing to launch their
future careers into orbit by joining former NASA astronauts and scientists on a
week-long space school.
Sma’ Shot Day
Thousands of residents descended on Paisley town centre for Sma’ Shot Day –
the annual celebration of the area’s weaving heritage. The area around Paisley
Abbey and Town Hall was a hub of activity as young and old alike enjoyed the
festival atmosphere.
The day kicked off at noon when hundreds of volunteers and members of local
community groups lined up for the historic parade from Brodie Park to the town
centre. This year’s parade brought the Sma’ Shot story to life using speciallycreated
props and costumes designed during workshops run by outdoor arts
specialists Walk the Plank last month.
Mission Discovery Renfrewshire returned at the end of June, with local school
pupils and students getting to work hand in hand with a panel of space experts
to design experiments that could be launched into space.
It is only the second time Mission Discovery has taken place in Scotland, having
first been brought to Paisley in 2014.
This year the panel of experts included Stephen Bowen, who has completed
three spaceflights to the International Space Station and is the first and only
astronaut to fly on consecutive shuttle missions.
This unique educational programme, run by International Space School
Educational Trust (ISSET), gives young people the chance to learn:
• NASA leadership, team building and personal development skills
• About biomedical research
• How space exploration benefits life on earth
• What the space environment feels like (from those who know)
• About scientific research, experiments and innovation - on earth and in
space
Council Leader Mark Macmillan said: “I
am delighted to be welcoming the team
from ISSET back to Renfrewshire and
really excited for all those taking part.
“We want to raise young people’s
awareness of career opportunities
in the fields of science, technology,
engineering and maths. Mission
Discovery is an amazing way of doing
that by providing the opportunity for
young people to not only meet but work
alongside astronauts and scientists
from the highest level.
“A key aspiration of Mission Discovery
Renfrewshire is also to ensure that all
young people have the opportunity to
develop their academic potential, irrespective of social background. Thanks to
our wide range of sponsors from the business community we are able to offer
this programme to all young people free of charge.”
Mission Discovery is being offered to Renfrewshire school pupils as part of
a drive to establish Renfrewshire as a centre for excellence in the study of
Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM).
Last year’s winning team, Apollo 12, developed an experiment to test bacteria
to help find a cure for the eye condition conjunctivitis. Their experiment is due
to be tested on the International Space Station this summer.
Mission Discovery Renfrewshire 2015 is sponsored by University of the West of
Scotland, West College Scotland, Renfrewshire Chamber of Commerce, Clyde
Marine Training, Fission Creative, Muir Slicer Associates Ltd, PM Information
Solutions Ltd, Scottish Leather Group Ltd, The Experience – Kibble, Peak
Scientific, Thermo Fisher and 29 Studios.
For more details go to www.renfrewshire.gov.uk/missiondiscovery
In the town centre itself, attractions included live music from members of youth
group Create Paisley and theatre from PACE, plus outdoor stalls, a funfair, giant
games and inflatables. There was also an outdoor food market and the Slug in
a Bottle market, with a mix of vintage items and craft and design, as well as a
tea dance in Paisley Town Hall. The afternoon – as always – ended with a bang
with the spectacular pyrotechnics of the Burning of the Cork, intended to mark
the victory of the weavers in an industrial dispute of the 19th century.
For the first time there was an evening programme in Paisley Arts Centre,
featuring a Sma’ Shot Bigshot poetry slam, and a showcase of the 2020 film
project run by Create Paisley. Residents were also able to visit the Sma’ Shot
Cottages in Shuttle Street, where volunteers in period costume were on hand
to offer guided tours. Renfrewshire’s Provost Anne Hall, who was there on the
day and at the head of the parade, said: “Sma’ Shot Day is always one of the
highlights of the area’s events calendar, and this year’s event was as wellreceived
as ever.
Sma’ Shot Day celebrates the town’s proud textile history by marking the victory
of Paisley’s weavers in an industrial dispute of the 19th century.
The weavers didn’t receive payment for the Sma’ (small) Shot thread, which was
unseen, but held together the famous Paisley-patterned cashmere shawls.
A long fight and political battle ensued which the weavers eventually won and
renamed the traditional July holiday Sma’ Shot Day.
The day is just one of several big events which happened in Renfrewshire during
July - with the British Cycling Youth National Circuit Race Championships on
Sunday 12 July, followed by the Paisley Pipe Band Championships on Saturday
18 July.
For more information on local events, see www.renfrewshire.gov.uk/events