Employee & Community Engagement

Three children are engaged in an interactive activity at a colorful educational booth, with one child holding a device while another observes intently. An adult, wearing a purple SPARK™ volunteer shirt, is guiding them through the activity, promoting hands-on learning and engagement. The vibrant background features bright colors and patterns, enhancing the lively atmosphere of the event.

Employee and Community Engagement (ECE) encompasses all our efforts to accelerate access to science while sparking curiosity in the next generation of scientists. We accomplish this by making philanthropic investments in the areas of science education and global access to science, ensuring that our initiatives reach and benefit a wide range of communities and individuals. By fostering a culture that values different perspectives and backgrounds, we aim to create opportunities for all, promoting a more inclusive environment where everyone can contribute to and thrive in the scientific community.

Simultaneously, we harness the diverse talents and expertise of our employees through the following programs:

SPARK™, a large-scale, global volunteer program that enables our employees to leverage their expertise in their communities and bring science to students around the world
Curiosity Programs, several proprietary STEM education programs powered by SPARK™ that turn scientific inquisitiveness into action by bringing hands-on science lessons to students around the world, including the Curiosity Cube, Curiosity Labs™ and Curiosity Labs™ at Home
A variety of other programs and events, including site hosting for student visits, science day expos, employee giving programs, and inclusion events, etc.

As part of our Sustainability & Social Business Innovation work, we have a commitment to STEM education programs. Our programs are modeled on the principles of inclusion and access. We focus on increasing hands-on science for students in communities where we operate. Our local employees serve as volunteers and role models, showcasing the diversity of the STEM workforce. We want to inspire young students by showing them that scientists all over the world, who look just like them, are working to create a better tomorrow.

SPARK™

SPARK™ is a unique, large-scale global program that unites our employees to give back to their communities through skills-based and non-skills-based volunteering.

A close-up image of a wall covered with hexagonal sticky notes, each featuring handwritten questions and curiosities from children. The notes are in various colors and include phrases like “I’m curious to know…” and questions about germs, the ocean, and other intriguing topics, creating an engaging and interactive learning environment.

How Do We SPARK™ Curiosity?

Our employees are able to use up to 16 hours of paid volunteer time each year to give back to the communities in which they live and work. Although a global program, events are organized locally by our dedicated employee-led site SPARK™ teams and range from our Curiosity Programs, science expo events and site tours, to civic events and our annual Global Food Drive.

Our impact since 2016:

An infographic displaying key impact metrics in vibrant colors against a blue background. It highlights four statistics: 496,567 students reached, 29 countries reached, 5,084 events conducted, and 164,421 volunteer hours logged, each accompanied by relevant icons that visually represent the data.

Our Science Education activities include:

Two children are engaged in a hands-on science activity, wearing protective lab coats and gloves. One child, holding a container, is demonstrating something to another child who is attentively listening, while a few adults and other participants are visible in the background, creating an interactive and educational environment.

Curiosity Programs

Our flagship Curiosity-based series of programs puts sparking curiosity for science globally into action. There is a strong correlation between socioeconomic status and early learning that causes a gap in opportunity for even the youngest students. We are committed to minimizing this gap by providing access to hands-on science learning for students globally through our Curiosity Programs.

A child wearing a "Thinking Cap" hat is seated at a table, facing a presentation about water filtration, with two adults standing in front of a large screen displaying relevant information. The adults are engaged in explaining the topic, while various educational materials, including cups and worksheets, are visible on the table, creating an interactive learning environment.

Curiosity Labs™

Our flagship Curiosity Labs™ program provides interactive, in-classroom science lessons that align with the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). Developed in partnership with Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri, we deploy research-based, best practices curricula led by our trained Life Science employees around the world. We work with teachers to choose lessons that complement and bolster current classroom curriculum. During those lessons, our team guides students through applying scientific principles to real-world concepts and challenges. In addition, we supply all the necessary materials and equipment.

Since its launch in 2016, the program has reached more than 77,000 students through more than 2,950 lessons in 27 countries to date.

Learn More About Curiosity Labs™

A group of children is engaged in a hands-on science activity at a bright green table, where they are exploring a water filtration experiment. The facilitator, wearing a SPARK™ shirt, demonstrates the process while the children attentively observe and participate, fostering an interactive learning experience outdoors.

Curiosity Cube

We've taken our successful Curiosity Labs™ program beyond the classroom. With the Curiosity Cube mobile science lab that tours North America and Europe, our employees are sparking curiosity in visitors of all ages through hands-on science lessons focused on a different theme each year. Since its launch in 2017, the Curiosity Cube has reached more than 230,000 students in 14 countries.

Learn More About Curiosity Cube

Curiosity Labs™ at Home

In order to bring science to students anytime and anywhere, we have created free, easy and educational science experiments designed to be completed at home with materials found around the house. Since its launch in 2020, Curiosity Labs™ at Home videos have been viewed more than 2.7 million times on social media.

Learn More About Curiosity Labs™ at Home

Site Hosting

We invite local students to our various Life Science sites for an educational experience led by employees. The visit typically includes an educational tour, hands-on experiments, and thought-provoking discussions about careers in science.

Science Day Expos

Leveraging our Curiosity Labs™ at Home experiments, our employees lead small-scale, interactive experiments during science festivals, school or community events.

Employee Giving Programs

Our employees donate their time, dollars, and skills to a host of causes around the world. We’re proud to join in their efforts. In the U.S., for example, we match employees’ charitable donations dollar for dollar, up to $1,000 per employee per year.

Sign In To Continue

To continue reading please sign in or create an account.

Don't Have An Account?