GSK Science in the Summer™ expands to 20 national locations for 30th anniversary

Free summer science program will teach thousands of kids how electricity powers our daily lives

When school is out, science is in and this year, GSK is celebrating the 30th Anniversary of GSK Science in the Summer™ by expanding the free science program to 20 sites nationwide!

Sponsored by GSK [LSE/NYSE: GSK], one of the world’s leading research-based pharmaceutical and healthcare companies, GSK Science in the Summer™ is a free educational program for elementary students that launched in Philadelphia 30 years ago to engage kids in science at an early age. Since its inception, GSK has worked with partner organizations to bring hands-on science courses to more than 150,000 students in Philadelphia, North Carolina and Washington, D.C., and launched a national pilot program to reach even more students in 2015.

For the first time in 2016, GSK Science in the Summer™ will bring free science lessons to more than 8,000 elementary students at 20 national locations, from Texas to Minnesota, and Arizona to Maine. The national program is sponsored by GSK, administered by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) — the world’s largest general scientific society — and hosted by leading museums and sciences centers across the country. GSK Science in the Summer™ partners with local community organizations to reach students through schools, libraries, homeless shelters, camps, homeschool groups, Boys and Girls Clubs and Native American reservations. 

“We are thrilled to celebrate GSK Science in the Summer’s 30th Anniversary by expanding the program to reach even more students across the United States,” said Marti Skold-Jordan, Manager of Community Partnerships at GSK. “This program has successfully engaged children from diverse backgrounds through exciting science activities. We hope that we can continue to inspire more young girls and boys to learn to love science and to consider pursing STEM as a career path.”

GSK Science in the Summer™ is designed to connect students from all backgrounds with stimulating coursework and exciting activities that foster critical skills and a love of discovery and learning. In 2016, GSK Science in the Summer™ students at sites across the country will learn about electricity and magnetism. Students will learn about what makes materials magnetic and how permanent magnets work by observing their effect on different materials. They will build their own circuits, and then use that knowledge to construct electric-powered devices. Students will also make an electromagnet to understand more about how magnetism and electrical current are interrelated, and how we make use of these phenomena in our daily lives.

“We are looking forward to partnering with GSK to continue GSK Science in the Summer’s national expansion,” said Betty Calinger, project manager, Education and Human Resources Programs, AAAS and administrator of the Washington, D.C./Baltimore program. “Understanding core scientific concepts and building STEM skills at a young age is so important, and we are proud to partner with GSK to increase students’ access to critical summer learning opportunities.”

In summer 2016, the program will be offered in the following locations:

  • ARIZONA: Arizona Science Center in Phoenix
  • CONNECTICUT: Discovery Museum in Bridgeport
  • FLORIDA: Museum of Discovery & Science in Ft. Lauderdale
  • FLORIDA: Pensacola MESS Hall
  • INDIANA: Science Central in Ft. Wayne
  • KANSAS: Exploration Place Inc. in Wichita
  • LOUISIANA: Sci-Port Discovery Center in Shreveport
  • MAINE: Maine Discovery Museum in Bangor
  • MASSACHUSETTS: Berkshire Museum in Pittsfield
  • MINNESOTA: Science Museum of Minnesota in St. Paul
  • MINNESOTA: The Bakken in Minneapolis
  • MISSOURI: Kansas City’s Science Center
  • MISSOURI: St. Louis Science Center Foundation
  • MONTANA: University of Montana spectrum in Missoula
  • NEW YORK: miSci (Museum of Innovation and Science) in Schenectady
  • OHIO: Cleveland Museum of Natural History
  • PENNSYLVANIA: Carnegie Institute in Pittsburgh
  • PENNSYLVANIA: North Museum of Nature & Science in Lancaster
  • TENNESSEE: Adventure Science Center in Nashville
  • TEXAS: Sci-Tech Discovery in Frisco

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

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 is 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, Manager US Community Partnerships, 919-315-8854, marti.x.skold-jordan@gsk.com