Scotland’s flagship science centre is looking to attract a more diverse group of visitors and get more people generally interested in science with a £4m (US$5.2m, €4.6m) refurbishment.

Including in the plans for the Glasgow+Science+Centre'>Glasgow Science Centre are a number of outdoor exhibit areas that will allow visitors to view artefacts and engage with science on the banks of the River Clyde.

Expected to complete by December 2021, the project will also include a new indoor hub, which will use smart screens to attract those who may not normally have an interest in science.

Bosses at the science centre are concerned that the centre’s visitor demographic is not diverse enough, in spite of overall visitor numbers reaching record levels, rising by 12 per cent over the past four recorded years.

"38 per cent of our visitors work in or study science. That tells us that we need to appeal to more people who hold a belief that science isn’t for them," said a Glasgow Science Centre spokesperson.

"When you look at the age range of our visitors, too few of them are age 64-plus and that’s why we’ll be doing more outreach programmes and opening a community hub."

Stephen Breslin, Glasgow Science Centre CEO, added: "There are still large sections of society who still think 'science is not for people like us'.

"Science is for everyone. It can empower and enrich each and every one of us and any section of society that feels excluded from science, for whatever reason, is at risk of being marginalised and unable to access the many opportunities that science and technology create.

"That’s one reason why Glasgow Science Centre is about to embark on a £4m programme of change, that aims to break down the barriers, real and perceived, to engaging with science."