F2 pupils at HSD brought Dundee’s rich jute heritage to life through a hands-on, STEM-focused exploration of textile manufacturing.
The day-long event – The Fabric of Dundee – challenged pupils to uncover the science and technology behind both natural and synthetic textiles through a blend of research, experimentation, and crafting.
A highlight of the day was a visit to Verdant Works Museum, where pupils learned about Dundee’s contribution to the global textiles industry. Back in the lab, things got forensic as they conducted experiments to identify different fibres and textiles and even got to weave and knit their own pieces of modern fabric.
Beyond the practical activities, the pupils tackled research challenges exploring the science behind textile production, investigated the modern textiles industry landscape, and considered the wider societal impacts of manufacturing and how they might be addressed.
Head of Chemistry and STEM Co-ordinator, Dr Nicola Kiernan, said, “It’s wonderful to see pupils throw themselves into every challenge, applying their lab and research skills to explore the remarkable role their own city has played in the global textiles story.
“We’re thrilled that the event was able to provide an exciting, fresh way to develop the real-world, interdisciplinary learning that’s so important for preparing pupils for the future.”