Caithness International Science Festival

05/10/2026

Contact change for the UK.

Wick High School in Scotland will now talk with Josh Kutryk on the ISS Thursday, live via ham radio.

Scheduled for 11:29 UTC | 7:29 AM ET | 12:29 PM BST direct via GB4WHS.

Crew audio on 145.800 MHz FM. Check graphic in comments for livestream and HamTV info.

We are really excited to share that our contact with the International Space Station is scheduled to be with a member of the upcoming Crew-13, Canadian Space Agency astronaut, fighter pilot and mission specialist, Joshua Kutryk, KJ5BFU.

The contact will take place direct, via radio, supported by the ARISS - Amateur Radio on the International Space Station UK team. For schools, families and everyone else interested to watch the live stream, it will be accessible at https://live.ariss.org/. Prior to the contact we will be showcasing all the amazing things that Wick High School pupils have been up to in their subjects, inspired by the contact. The actual contact with Joshua will happen at 13:00:34 UTC (14:00:34 UK time) on the 6th of October.

This contact is also due to feature the incredible HamTV, which will allow us a live glimpse inside the Space Station as Joshua is answering our questions.

The ISS callsign is scheduled to be NA1SS and the school station callsign will be GB4WHS. The downlink frequency is presently scheduled to be 145.800 MHz

We hope to see schools all across Scotland and the rest of the UK tuning in to this inspiring and very rare Q&A session with an astronaut aboard the ISS. We have pupils aged 5-12 asking questions from Wick High School, Newton Park Primary, Noss Primary, Thrumster Primary and Canisbay Primary with other schools in Caithness tuning in to the live stream.

Please share so we can all take part in this experience together as part of World Space Week.

30/09/2026

🚀 Caithness is going LIVE to the International Space Station! 🛰️

We’re incredibly excited to share this fantastic opportunity taking place right here in Caithness as part of World Space Week.

On Tuesday 6 October, pupils at Wick High School will make direct radio contact with the International Space Station, speaking with Canadian Space Agency astronaut Joshua Kutryk aboard the ISS! 👨‍🚀

📡 The live contact is scheduled for 14:00:34 UK time, supported by the ARISS – Amateur Radio on the International Space Station UK team.

Even better, schools, families and space enthusiasts across Caithness, Scotland and beyond can be part of it too! The event will be livestreamed, with coverage beforehand showcasing some of the amazing space-inspired work Wick High School pupils have been doing.

We’re especially delighted to see young people from across Caithness involved, with pupils aged 5–12 from Wick High School, Newton Park Primary, Noss Primary, Thrumster Primary and Canisbay Primary putting their questions to an astronaut in space. 🌍➡️🛰️

This is an extraordinary opportunity to inspire our young people through science, technology, engineering and space – and a wonderful event to have happening here in the far north of Scotland.

📅 Tuesday 6 October 2026
⏰ ISS contact: 14:00:34 UK time
📺 Watch live: https://live.ariss.org/

Please share far and wide and encourage your school, class, family and friends to tune in. Let’s get as many people as possible watching this very special Caithness moment! 🚀✨

We are really excited to share that our contact with the International Space Station is scheduled to be with a member of the upcoming Crew-13, Canadian Space Agency astronaut, fighter pilot and mission specialist, Joshua Kutryk, KJ5BFU.

The contact will take place direct, via radio, supported by the ARISS - Amateur Radio on the International Space Station UK team. For schools, families and everyone else interested to watch the live stream, it will be accessible at https://live.ariss.org/. Prior to the contact we will be showcasing all the amazing things that Wick High School pupils have been up to in their subjects, inspired by the contact. The actual contact with Joshua will happen at 13:00:34 UTC (14:00:34 UK time) on the 6th of October.

This contact is also due to feature the incredible HamTV, which will allow us a live glimpse inside the Space Station as Joshua is answering our questions.

The ISS callsign is scheduled to be NA1SS and the school station callsign will be GB4WHS. The downlink frequency is presently scheduled to be 145.800 MHz

We hope to see schools all across Scotland and the rest of the UK tuning in to this inspiring and very rare Q&A session with an astronaut aboard the ISS. We have pupils aged 5-12 asking questions from Wick High School, Newton Park Primary, Noss Primary, Thrumster Primary and Canisbay Primary with other schools in Caithness tuning in to the live stream.

Please share so we can all take part in this experience together as part of World Space Week.

24/03/2026

What a week at the Caithness International Science Festival! ⚡🌪️

We’re sending a huge thank you to Thunderbolts and Lightning for powering such an incredible few days of curiosity, energy, and hands-on science.

From bringing Airheads to primary schools and exploring the wonders of air pressure, to creating a new generation of mealworm farmers through their Edible Insects workshops - the enthusiasm was fantastic!

Saturday’s Family Fun Day was the perfect grand finale: A performance of ‘Airheads’, bigger insect tastings, and so many brave (and brilliant!) people diving straight in.

Thanks again to Thunderbolts and Lightning - and to everyone who joined us and made the festival such a success.

24/03/2026

A big thank you to RSPB Highlands & Islands for bringing such an engaging exhibit - it was great to have you with us, and we look forward to seeing you again next year!

We had an incredible weekend at the annual Caithness International Science Festival in Wick!

Families and other locals came by to interact with our bog wildlife and the wonders of the Flow Country in a wonderful mix of learning and fun.

Here’s to curiosity, connection, and community and making science accessible and exciting for all ages and backgrounds!

24/03/2026

Thanks for joining us with such a fantastic, interactive exhibit, Caithness and Sutherland Countryside Rangers - we loved having you and hope to see you again next year!

24/03/2026

Our Family Fun Day was filled with laughter, smiles, and so many fun moments — just a few are captured in this picture special 📸✨

Take a scroll through and see who you can spot! 👀👇

Tag your friends and family, share your favourite moments, and let us know what you loved most about the day!

PICTURE SPECIAL: High-voltage fun day highlights from Caithness International Science Festival 2026. More info in comments below 👇

21/03/2026

What an incredible Family Fun Day we had today! 🎉

A huge THANK YOU to everyone who came along and made it such a fantastic, vibrant, and memorable day. It was amazing to see so many smiling faces enjoying all the activities.

We’re especially grateful to our wonderful exhibitors for bringing such energy, creativity, and hands-on fun, and to the brilliant café team who kept everyone fuelled throughout the day. A big shoutout as well to the Science 03 Committee Members for all their hard work behind the scenes to make the event run so smoothly.

We would also like to extend our sincere thanks to our generous funders, The Scottish Government, NRS Dounreay, and Foundation Scotland through the Halsary Windfarm Community Benefit Fund (Halkirk & District), RWE Camster Wind Farm Community Fund, Tannach and District Wind Farm Trust Fund, and Watten Windfarm Trust Fund. Your support makes events like this possible.

We’d love to hear from you - what was your favourite part of the day? 💬 Share your highlights in the comments!

Thank you again for being part of such a fantastic day 💙

17/03/2026

What lovely feedback from one of our young learners today 🤩

I want to share this quote from a fabulous young learner from Mount Pleasant school today. He made me feel like all the planning work and my workshop was worth the effort.

Caithness International Science Festival

Come to the free Family Fun Day at Wick High School this Saturday 12-4pm and find out more for yourself.
Best day of your life not always guaranteed, but pretty sure we make it something special...with a few bouncing sprinkles on top!

17/03/2026

Day 2 of the Caithness international science festival & today we were at Miller Academy. We saw all 3 of the ELC rooms & a p1 & P7 Class.
Gary the giant African land snail got a few interesting comments when I took him out. Both from the P1 class. First was the Comment “Surely that’s not normal for a snail?” I replied “what do you mean normal”
She replied “Well it’s huge that’s not normal”

Me “For giant snails funny enough it’s normal to be huge, they’re called giant snails for a reason” lol 😂
Obviously they’re much bigger than the snails you usually see in the garden.

Second comment was said while we put Gary away.
A wee girl said “I think Gary is Pretty”
“pretty?” I said
“Yes it means he’s gorgeous”
lol I replied “ I know what pretty means, I’ve just not heard anyone in the 16 years of Showing giant snails calling them pretty before, do you mean his shell is pretty?”
“Nope” she replied “his face” lol 😂
Well I guess he is pretty in his own snaily way lol 🐌❤️