The Indiana State Museum providing free STEM programming through July.
For a third-straight year, the Indiana State Museum will provide free summer STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) enrichment programming to Indiana youth as part of GSK Science in the Summer™, a nationwide initiative is designed to inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers.
GSK Science in the Summer aims to address the well-documented loss of students’ skills and knowledge that often occurs during long summer breaks. This year, the program returns with a new theme: Be a Health Scientist.
The Indiana State Museum is the state’s only GSK Science in the Summer provider. In its first two years as part of this outreach initiative, the museum reached more than 1,000 youth across Indiana, helping to foster a love for science and exploration in the next generation.
“Our goal as an engagement team is to be out in the community as much as possible to benefit our area youth and represent our institution,” said Bethany Thomas, vice president of engagement at the Indiana State Museum. “This program has been a great fit for us as it provides everything we need to reach children where they are, engage them with educational programming and build relationships with families who may not have visited the museum yet.” 
Members of the museum’s engagement team will collaborate with local partners, including Indy Parks & Recreation and Boys & Girls Clubs of Indianapolis, to offer students a unique opportunity to step into the shoes of real scientists and engineers. Through exciting hands-on activities, participants will engage with the world of health science in a dynamic and interactive way.
In addition to direct student engagement, museum staff will provide training to educators, equipping them to implement programming for students across the state. The museum aims to reach 700 youth throughout Indiana, offering three to five hours of themed programming in June and July.
Supported by GSK (GlaxoSmithKline) and led by The Franklin Institute, the program provides opportunities for students to embody science careers and develop their scientific thinking skills in a fun and interactive way. Through a series of hands-on activities, Indiana participants will join thousands of other GSK Science in the Summer students nationwide as they dive into the fascinating world of health science. Students will explore various career paths, taking on the roles of athletic trainer, cardiologist, dietician, epidemiologist and orthopedic doctor.
GSK Science in the Summer was created 39 years ago in Philadelphia as part of GSK’s commitment to supporting diverse and equitable STEM education. The national network, led by The Franklin Institute, brings together informal science institutions to reach around 25,000 youth in grades 2-6 through partnerships with community-based organizations across the United States.
The Franklin Institute develops the GSK Science in the Summer curriculum, which is freely available at scienceinthesummer.fi.edu.
