Nearly US$2.5m (€2.3m, £2m) has been made available to science centres and museums across the state of North Carolina, with the government grants designed to aid continued development and encourage interest in STEM subjects in underprivileged communities.

A total of 41 science centres have been awarded sums of up to US$75,000 (€70,000, £61,000). The scheme looks to reward science centres in poorer areas, and those who are financially self-supporting and open to partnering with others to share exhibitions and programmes.

Awardees include Asheville Museum of Science, Discovery Place Kids (Rockingham), Rocky Mount Children's Museum and Science Center, Highlands Nature Center, Sylvian Heights Bird Park, Port Discover, Greensboro Science Center and Morehead Planetarium.