Finding Her Niche: Science and Community

For Danielle Chavis, combining her dual passions of teaching and service helps make work deeply fulfilling.

March 28, 2024 | 3 min

Danielle Chavis vividly remembers the first time she saw it. She had heard about it for months. She had planned for this meeting for weeks. Finally, there it stood staring back at her from the corner of the warehouse.

A shipping container.

But it’s so much more than a shipping container. This one was overhauled into a mobile science lab, sporting vibrant colors on the outside and a playful, welcoming interior. Curiosity Cube, meet Danielle. Danielle, meet Curiosity Cube.

Chavis is a coordinator for the Curiosity Cube, a role she’s held since December 2021. The Curiosity Cube — a key SPARK program — is a vibrant science lab designed to bring science on the road. It moves from town to town, bringing engaging science activities to students. The curriculum changes yearly but inside you will always find a variety of lab equipment, like microscopes, lab benches and digital tools. Merck volunteers welcome students and guide them through hands-on, interactive science experiments that bring Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) topics to life.

Chavis develops curriculum, trains employee volunteers, and manages tour logistics. Given her science and teaching background, the combination of science and service is a perfect match.

The first time she saw the Curiosity Cube on that day in the warehouse in 2022, Chavis and colleagues knew they had a big task at hand. After a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Curiosity Cube was ready to hit the road again. Now, two successful Curiosity Cube tours later, Chavis reflects on her journey at Merck and looks forward to the 2024 season.

What motivates you?

I genuinely love to serve people. For me, a part of why I love the work is that it aligns with my beliefs. The world won’t get better just because I wish for it to be better. It takes all of us, whether through big or small actions, everyone can play a role in making the world better. By empowering colleagues to engage with their communities and support youth, I play a small part in making people happy while positively impacting the community.  

What makes the Curiosity Cube program unique?

It wouldn’t run without our incredible employee volunteers. Volunteers come from a wide variety of roles in the company. On any given day, we’ll have scientists, lawyers, marketing professionals and IT experts all standing side-by-side. The range of experience is one attribute that really helps the Curiosity Cube shine. The fact that we facilitate employees connecting with their local community is incredible. Everyone leaves the day smiling. 

What’s hard about your job?

Sometimes, it can be intimidating to work directly with members of the public because so much is unpredictable — from the people to the weather. We might have a group of kids who are tired or apprehensive, but it’s my job — and the job of the volunteers — to meet the kids where they are, make them feel comfortable and get them engaged. No event is the same because we will always have a unique set of volunteers and students. It makes work both exciting and challenging. 

Do you have an especially memorable moment on tour?

Oh, there are so many. One that stands out was the first time I was coordinating a visit on my own near our Rockville, Maryland, USA site. Just minutes before the students were coming out, I learned that the primary language of the students was Spanish. Many spoke little to no English. I had a moment of panic because I hadn’t prepared for that or notified volunteers. But it just so happened that many volunteers that day spoke Spanish. So, on the fly, they translated the entire curriculum. That will always be a top-tier moment for me, as it shows how flexible and incredible our volunteers are. 

About SPARK 

We are committed to accelerating access to health for people everywhere while also sparking curiosity in the next generation of scientists. We support these efforts both through philanthropic investments and by channeling the diverse talents, expertise and passion of our employees. Through SPARK, employees with a wide array of backgrounds — including chemists, communicators, lawyers and machinists— volunteer in their communities. Employees give back by volunteering for hands-on science activities, beach clean-ups and meal-packing events, among other activities. 

Through Curiosity Labs, Curiosity Labs at Home, and the Curiosity Cube, we bring hands-on, interactive science lessons to students around the world. In 2023, through SPARK, the company reached more than 82,000 students across more than 900 events in 22 countries. Employees —3,024 to be exact — collectively spent 21,828 hours sparking a curiosity for science! Learn more