GSK Science in the Summer

We want children to discover the wonders of science and consider a career in science one day. That's why we offer GSK Science in the Summer™, a free, inquiry-based science education program that helps elementary school children grow to love science. Through classes held in public libraries and other community-based organizations, the program gets kids excited about learning science with hands-on experiments.

In 2020, more than 25,000 students participated in GSK’s Science in the Summer™ program both virtually and in-person depending on the COVID-19 protocols in their community. The program was established in 1986 in Philadelphia, PA, and then offered in the Raleigh-Durham, NC metro area in the summer of 2008. The program expanded nationally in 2017 and will be offered in 32 sites across the US this summer.

GSK Science in the Summer™ is administered by the Franklin Institute, and the University of North Carolina’s Morehead Planetarium and Science Center in cooperation with participating local science centers, libraries and community centers.

‘Be a Engineer!’ in Summer 2021

This summer, thousands of students across the country will play the role of engineers and tackle challenges in electrical, biomedical, environmental, and structural engineering through at-home experiments, videos, and live virtual events. Students will explore the engineering design process as they solve real-world problems—including managing a playground’s stormwater runoff and designing a sturdy lightweight pedestrian bridge.

Learn more about our GSK Science in the Summer programs at www.scienceinthesummer.fi.edu/phila (Greater Philadelphia and National sites) and https://moreheadplanetarium.org/sis/ (North Carolina sites). 

Through active, hands-on learning, students in second through sixth grades will learned that, through knowledge, education and hard work, that science can be interesting, exciting and challenging, all while they learn the basic STEM skills that will prepare them for academic and professional success.

Visit scienceinthesummer.fi.edu to learn more about all of our GSK Science in the Summer™ sites.