Lord Sainsbury, UK parliamentary under secretary of state for science and innovation, was the guest of honour at the corporate opening of Catalyst Alive - three exciting new facilities at the North West's own Science Discovery Centre in Widnes Cheshire.
The new £450,000 facilities are a state of the art interactive virtual reality theatre, a discovery laboratory called the Catalytic Laboratory and a careers corridor, the World of Opportunities.
The centre attracts over 20,000 schoolchildren a year and plays a key part in stimulating the interest of young people in science and chemistry.
'It makes such a difference if children, from the very youngest age, are able to see what chemistry can do and how it plays such a vital part in their lives. It is vital that children should be introduced to the wonders of science whilst still at primary school,' said Lord Sainsbury.
The first Catalyst Award for the most creative working partnership between industry and the centre was presented by Lord Sainsbury to Diana Caldwell of Warrington-based Novelis UK, the country's largest recycler of aluminium.
Lord Sainsbury then toured of the Centre, with Chairman, Dr Tony Bastock and Director, Ms Julie Burgess-Wilson, meeting Trustees and supporters and sponsors of the Centre.