Education

When School is Out, Science is In! GSK Science in the Summer™ Goes National

Kids use chemistry to turn pennies golden in STEM experiments
Mar 23, 2015 2:20 PM ET

March 23, 2015 /3BL Media/ - GSK [LSE/NYSE: GSK], one of the world’s leading research-based pharmaceutical and healthcare companies, is bringing summer science fun to elementary students across the United States! The GSK Science in the Summer™ free educational program — launched in Philadelphia 30 years ago and successfully operating in a handful of East Coast locations — is going national by expanding to 12 additional locations this summer, reaching 3,000 more kids. Globally, GSK is working to engage more than 2.5 million young people in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) by 2020 through programs like GSK Science in the Summer.

“We are delighted at the success of the GSK Science in the Summer program, and are pleased to be taking it to a national level,” said Mary Linda Andrews, GSK Director of Community Partnerships. “Every child deserves a high-quality, engaging opportunity to experience science, and we hope that by expanding our program, we are planting the seed for a lifelong interest in and appreciation of science in the hearts and minds of the participants.”

The national program, which is sponsored by GSK, administered by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) and hosted by leading museums/science centers across the country, will teach elementary students the wonders of chemistry through fun, free, hands-on classes. The classes are open to students entering second through sixth grade, separated into two levels based on age group. GSK Science in the Summer encourages elementary students to get involved in STEM learning, while mitigating the effects of summer learning loss.

In summer 2015, the program will be offered in the following new locations with registration beginning in May:

  • ALABAMA: Sci-Quest Hands-on Science Center in Huntsville
  • FLORIDA: Museum of Discovery & Science in Ft. Lauderdale
  • INDIANA: Science Central in Ft. Wayne
  • LOUISIANA: Sci-Port Discovery Center in Shreveport
  • MINNESOTA: Science Museum of Minnesota in St. Paul
  • MISSOURI: Kansas City’s Science Center, Science City at Union Station in Kansas City
  • NORTH CAROLINA: SCIWORKS, The Science Center and Environmental Park of Forsyth County in Winston-Salem
  • NEW YORK: miSci (Museum of Innovation and Science) in Schenectady
  • OHIO: Cleveland Museum of Natural History in Cleveland
  • OREGON: Oregon Museum of Science and Industry in Portland
  • PENNSYLVANIA: North Museum of Nature & Science in Lancaster
  • TENNESSEE: Adventure Science Center in Nashville

The program also will continue to be offered in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, North Carolina and Washington, D.C./Baltimore.

“We are very excited to be helping expand the GSK Science in the Summer program,” said Betty Calinger, project manager, Education and Human Resources Programs, AAAS and long-time administrator of the Washington, D.C./Baltimore program. “The program teaches core science concepts in a way that is engaging and accessible, and we are proud to be able to bring it to even more students this year.”

GSK Science in the Summer seeks to combine the positive effects of STEM learning, hands-on activities and summer academic engagement through stimulating coursework and exciting activities. In the GSK Science in the Summer chemistry curriculum, students learn the basics of chemistry through hands-on experiments. Young scientists will learn what matter is and that it is not always the same. They will observe physical and chemical changes with fun experiments like turning pennies golden, making crystals, and watching popcorn “dance.” Students also will decide if substances are acids, bases, or neutrals by using litmus and pH papers and a universal indicator.

AAAS is an international non-profit organization dedicated to advancing science, technology, and engineering for the benefit of all people. For further information, please visit www.aaas.org/.

GSK – one of the world’s leading research-based pharmaceutical and healthcare companies – is committed to improving the quality of human life by enabling people to do more, feel better and live longer.  For further information, go to us.gsk.com, follow us on twitter.com/GSKUS, or visit our blog (www.morethanmedicine.us.gsk.com/blog/). 

For more information on GSK’s global STEM education program, visit gskscienceeducation.com.

Media Contact:

Marti Skold Jordan, 919-315-8854, marti.x.skold-jordan@gsk.com

Cautionary statement regarding forward-looking statements
GSK cautions investors that any forward-looking statements or projections made by GSK, including those made in this announcement, are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. Such factors include, but are not limited to, those described under Item 3.D 'Risk factors' in the company's Annual Report on Form 20-F for 2013.