Living in Big Sky Country means breathtaking mountain ranges and nature at your doorstep. For outdoor enthusiasts like Jesse Cook, the national parks and untamed wilderness drew him to Montana after an idyllic childhood in Wyoming. While pursuing his biochemistry degree at Montana State University, Cook met a professor who would have a vital and enduring impact.
This professor was deeply involved in outreach to the Indigenous community,” said Cook. “I always stayed on campus during the summer so I quickly got involved. We would bring in students from high-risk communities from all over the state to take part in a week-long science program.”
The engagement and impact stayed with Cook as he graduated college and built a career. He’s lived and worked all over the world but the bucolic beauty he grew up in kept calling him. He wanted to be near family and was ready to move back to a land of wide-open spaces and scenic landscapes.
Now a Quality Control Chemistry Supervisor at our Hamilton, Montana facility, Cook also returned to giving back to the community. He recently took part in the GSK Science in the Summer™ program.
“It was a fantastic experience,” Cook describes. “There were 20 children waiting for us at the local library and we showed them how to build a roller coaster out of Legos®! We combined physics and engineering to take the lessons out of the textbook and translate them into real life.”
Cook always looked up to his older brother who was the first in the family to attend college. He remembers one of his siblings playing with Legos® for hours. It was an avenue to explore and learn.
“I realized if I could spark interest and feed it with hands-on experiences, I could make a difference. When children are having fun, they may not realize they’re getting some important lessons along the way. I think of it as science in disguise,” reflects Cook. He brought his energy to the volunteer event, eager to connect with the children and see if he could generate that spark.
“In the beginning, the children weren’t really sure what was going on,” said Cook. “I showed them this piece fits here and this one helps with stability. One young girl was reluctant at first but once I explained what I was building, she immediately got it and started playing with the pieces. Maybe at six years old, she won’t remember this day. Or maybe she will start to explore these concepts more.”
It was good timing as the county fair was going on. Many of the young participants planned to stroll the grounds and enjoy the livestock show, build pinewood derby cars and shop at the indigenous market. Cook seized on the opportunity to explain how Lego® building could be found on the rides they would ride.
“I explained this piece fits here for safety,” Cook said. “They now had something they could relate to the lessons they just learned. It was really cool to see, especially because you now know it doesn’t have to be technology. Kids are kids. Make it fun and they’ll get excited and engaged.”
In the small town of just 5,000, GSK maintains a large presence with a staff of 300 working on a 35-acre campus. They’re responsible for manufacturing components of the company’s large vaccines portfolio. With this footprint, the employees remain motivated in their commitment to the community. On the day we spoke with Cook, employees were spotted wearing their orange volunteer T-shirts, ready to head out for another effort. Cook knows these volunteer experiences can really resonate, especially with groups underrepresented in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) fields.
“Agriculture is a primary economy in western Montana but we can show these budding minds that you don’t have to leave the state to pursue a STEM career,” said Cook. “There are so many great people who work here. We have the opportunity to share our passion and enthusiasm to inspire the next generation of engineers and scientists. It’s a really cool mission.”
With a rich history in native lands, 3,000 pristine lakes and abundant wildlife, Montana’s allure is easy to appreciate. Just as this natural beauty must be preserved, the children here must be nurtured in their development. Both are gifts that power our future and shape what is to come.
