Orkney International Science Festival was established in 1991. It is one of the oldest science festivals outside of Edinburgh gaining a reputation for high-quality programming.
Mahalakshmi (Maha) Abhishek, Deputy Festival Director said:
Volunteers were vital to the 2024 festival’s success. They took on a wide variety of essential roles, from helping with event management and logistics to assisting speakers and providing technical support. Their contribution ensured that the festival ran smoothly and the attendees had a memorable experience.
Orkney International Science Festival has strong community involvement. We helped them to recruit local volunteers promoting several of their opportunities including venue management, AV support, front-of-house duties, and health and safety compliance roles. Maha said:
For many volunteers, the experience had a positive impact on their confidence and opened up careers possibilities. It also offered valuable networking opportunities, allowing them to connect with experts in different fields.
She also shared comments from volunteers about their experience assisting at the festival in 2024:
"Overall the festival was a fantastic experience! It requires a lot of work to coordinate events but it is incredibly rewarding when they go well! There was a variety of different themes and topics each day so it felt like you were always doing something new. The people that we got to work with were the biggest part of making the festival a success and everyone was really lovely. They were passionate about it and worked together to that end."
"I had a brilliant time volunteering this year. Thank you for involving and trusting me with even more things like social media and event management!"
"The festival was very well organised and coordinated. The team did a great job of trying to get all the volunteers together and introduced before the festival started. The training sessions were a good refresher for previous volunteers and a good introduction for new volunteers."
Maha said:
Our volunteers made a significant difference to the festival, allowing us to expand and improve the programme. Their contribution helped the festival recover from the challenges of previous years, delivering a diverse range of events with limited resources.
The volunteer support enabled the team to handle large audiences and complex technical setups efficiently. Their presence not only increased our capacity but also encouraged a sense of community and collaboration. Overall, their dedication and enthusiasm was essential to the success and smooth execution of the festival.
