Techniquest is popular with people of all ages

Pupils from Madras Primary School in Penley near Wrexham hope holding copper and zinc rods will help them generate enough electricity to register on a special meter.

The experiment on Wednesday marks the launch of a new Techniquest science centre at the North East Wales Institute (NEWI) in Wrexham.

Techniquest, the UK's leading Science Discovery Centre based in Cardiff, will have a permanent home in north Wales when it opens on Friday.

Fun

The �500,000 exhibition centre, funded by the Welsh Assembly, will house more than 60 exhibits, a science theatre and an education programme.

Its aim is to assist schools in the teaching of science and make the subject more fun.

However, college bosses hope it will also become a major tourist attraction.

More than 200,000 people annually visit Techniquest in Cardiff Bay.

Wrexham has already established itself at the forefront of the teaching of science.

Last week thousands of people attended the Wrexham Science Festival, believed to be the biggest in Wales.

The exhibition is housed inside NEWI

The festival was set up in 1998 and is organised by Wrexham County Borough Council, Yale college, NEWI, the Welsh Development Agency and Education and Learning Wales.

Principal of NEWI Professor Michael Scott said the science centre, which is based inside the college, is an exciting development.

"This is a great day for both NEWI and indeed for science generally," he said.

"For five years now we have seen the continuing growth and development of the Science Festival.

"We are therefore delighted to see the spirit of the festival live on all year round in the Techniquest at NEWI Science Discovery Centre."