A portable planetarium is introducing thousands of pupils to the prospect of a career in technology, engineering and maths.

The Dark Sky Wales initiative, run by the University of Glamorgan and funded by EADS Defence and Security, has toured dozens of primary and secondary schools across South Wales over the past year.

So far almost 16,000 people have sat inside the pitch-black, four-metre-high semicircular canvas planetarium to enjoy a show that introduces them to the wonders of the universe.

The presentation is designed to build their enthusiasm for science and technology subjects, which is followed by workshops on subjects ranging from astronomy and robotics to rocketry.

Science teachers at Hawthorn High School in Pontypridd were so impressed after their visit that they asked Dark Sky Wales to develop a programme of workshops on astronomy, robotics and rocketry for their pupils. de.