Enriching Education: GSK Science in the Summer

Science is officially in session at more than 300 public libraries and community hubs throughout the nation as elementary school students discover the Science of Sports through the GSK Science in the Summer™ program. Classes begin this week and run through August for the free STEM enrichment program sponsored by GSK [LSE/NYSE: GSK], one of the world’s leading research-based pharmaceutical and healthcare companies.

GSK Science in the Summer™, launched by former GSK scientist Dr. Virginia Cunningham more than 30 years ago, has more than 170,000 alumni to date. The program’s purpose is to engage elementary students in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) learning at an early age.

This year’s program introduces a new course for the first time in more than a decade. The Science of Sports will teach students how science is used as a tool to help athletes improve their performance. Behind every professional basketball player, gymnast, swimmer, and sprinter is a team of scientists who help athletes excel in their sport, from trainers, nutritionists and physical therapists to statisticians and equipment engineers. Led by experienced educators, students will learn about these scientists and tackle basic STEM concepts through fun, hands-on activities like experimenting with healthy sports drink recipes and creating their own bouncy balls to test bounce height against other sports balls.

“We’re thrilled to introduce the Science of Sports to elementary school students across the country through this innovative, hands-on STEM program,” said Marti Skold-Jordan, Manager of Community Partnerships, GSK. “We hope that GSK Science in the Summer classes continue to inspire children to explore the wonders of science, as an academic pursuit now and a possible career path later.”
This summer, the program is offered in the following locations and administered by the following partners:

• AAAS, Washington, D.C., VA, and Baltimore, MD
• Adventure Science Center in Nashville, TN
• Arizona Science Center in Phoenix, AZ
• The Bakken Museum in Minneapolis, MN.
• Berkshire Museum in Pittsfield, MA
• Boys and Girls Club of LA, Los Angeles, CA
• Carnegie Science Center, Pittsburgh, PA
• COSI, Columbus, OH
• The Discovery Center,
• Discovery Museum, Bridgeport, CT
• EdVenture Children’s Museum, Columbia, SC
• Exploration Place,
• Fort Worth Museum of Science and History, Fort Worth, Texas
• Liberty Science Center, Jersey City, NJ
• Maine Discovery Museum, Bangor, ME
• miSci, Schenectady, NY
• Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI), Tampa, FL
• North Museum of Nature and Science, Lancaster, PA
• Save the Children USA, WA, AK and KY
• Science Central, Fort Wayne, IN
• Science City at Union Station, Kansas City, MO
• Science Museum of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN
• Sci-Port Discovery Center, Shreveport, LA
• Sci-Tech Discovery, Frisco, TX
• St. Louis Science Center, St. Louis, MO
• U of Montana spectrUM Discovery Area, Missoula, MT

GSK Science in the Summer™ will continue to be held at the program’s legacy sites with the following partners:

• North Carolina: UNC Morehead Planetarium and Science Center
• Greater Philadelphia area: The Franklin Institute

For more information on GSK Science in the Summer™, visit www.scienceinthesummer.com.
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 more company information, go to us.gsk.com and follow us on twitter.com/GSKUS.
For more information on GSK’s global STEM education program, visit gskscienceeducation.com.