PHILADELPHIA, March 23, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- 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.
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.
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SOURCE GSK