Free STEM Program in Partnership with The Franklin Institute to Reach 26,000 Students Nationwide This Year
According to a recent article by Oxford Learning, students lose 2-3 months of reading skills over the summer on average. “A majority of students (56 percent) want to be involved in a summer program that “helps kids keep up with schoolwork or prepare for the next grade,”” said Ruth Peters Ph.D. With summer almost in full swing, there is a program dedicated to STEM education among children that will help keep their brain active all summer long, called GSK Science in the Summer.
This year’s summer enrichment program “The Science of Me”, sponsored by global healthcare company GSK and administered by one of the nation’s premier centers of science education, The Franklin Institute, engages children in science, technology, engineering and math through hands-on learning and exploration. Overall, this program will aid 26,000 students nationwide during the summer months.
GSK Science in the Summer™, a free STEM program for students in underserved communities across the country, announced its new curriculum for summer 2019: The Science of Me. This summer enrichment program—sponsored by global healthcare company GSK and administered by one of the nation’s premier centers of science education, The Franklin Institute—engages children in science, technology, engineering and math through hands-on learning and exploration.
“At a time of skyrocketing demand for STEM skills in our nation’s workforce, GSK Science in the Summer™ continues to bridge a gap in access to science education where it is widest,” said Marti Skold-Jordan, Manager of US Community Partnerships at GSK. “We’re proud of our joint efforts with The Franklin Institute, as well as every parent and educator, to instill a love of learning in all of our students.”
Over the past 33 years, GSK Science in the Summer™ has brought free science education to more than 300,000 students nationwide. This summer alone, 26,000 children across the U.S. will discover how food fuels our bodies, where oxygen goes when we breathe it, how our brains interpret the world, and the role DNA plays in making us who we are.
“Engaging students in STEM at an early age is critical to fostering the next generation of scientists and innovators, and one of the best ways we can prepare students for lifelong success,” said Dr. Darryl Williams, Senior Vice President of Science and Education at The Franklin Institute. “We are extremely proud of this program, and of the partnership with GSK that makes STEM learning accessible and fun for students across the country.”
GSK Science in the Summer™ was created by GSK scientist Dr. Virginia Cunningham to encourage young girls and minority students to pursue careers in STEM. Learn more about the program and find an enrollment site near you atScienceInTheSummer.com.
ABOUT GSK:
GSK – a science-led global healthcare company with a special purpose: to help people do more, feel better, live longer. For further information please visit www.gsk.com.
ABOUT THE FRANKLIN INSTITUTE:
Located in the heart of Philadelphia, The Franklin Institute is a renowned and innovative leader in the field of science and technology learning, as well as a dynamic center of activity. Pennsylvania’s most visited museum, it is dedicated to creating a passion for learning about science by offering access to hands-on science education. For more information, visit www.fi.edu.
# # #
