Merck Inspires Students to Explore STEM Careers with 2024 Curiosity Cube Tour

News Release

• Curiosity Cube mobile science lab plans to reach 45,000 students in 14 countries
• Lessons educate students on sustainability topics, such as renewable energy and recycled materials
• Reinforces company commitment to increase equity in STEM education; addresses growing need for students to pursue STEM careers

Darmstadt, Germany, April 17, 2024 – Merck, a leading science and technology company, officially kicked off its global 2024 Curiosity Cube tour today in Darmstadt, Germany. The solar-powered shipping containers turned mobile science labs are once again visiting communities across Europe and North America. Merck’s goal is to engage 45,000 students to increase access to hands-on STEM education for students through interactive science experiences.

“Recent data shows students between 8 and 13 years old are interested in science and math, with most calling these subjects fun and exciting. Yet, this interest and enthusiasm is not translating into students pursuing STEM careers, as they find it hard to see themselves as scientists,” said Tim Jaeger, Chief Strategy and Transformation Officer for the Life Science business sector of Merck. “Our Curiosity Cube encourages children’s scientific curiosity with hands-on experiments showcasing real-world applications. Students also meet our employees, who can be role models for the incredible range of STEM careers that are possible.”

For the 2024 tour, the Curiosity Cube is sporting a new look, displaying photos of young scientists who are children of Merck employees. These employees work in a range of roles at the company from project management and human resources to manufacturing and supply chain. This helps illustrate the numerous career options available in STEM.

The hands-on experiments are led by local Merck employees at each stop who guide lessons focused on sustainability using the lifecycle of a t-shirt as an example. Students will:

• Learn about synthetic and natural fibers, examining them through microscopes and categorizing them based on their level of sustainability.
• Design and test a windmill that produces enough renewable energy to power a model t-shirt factory.
• Use a threading machine to learn how old clothing can be sorted, shredded into fibers, and re-spun into thread for new garments.

Embarking on its third tour of Europe, the Curiosity Cube will host 150 events. Stops include communities across Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Liechtenstein, the Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland and the U.K.

In North America, the Curiosity Cube already embarked on its sixth tour, with 137 events across the U.S. and Canada, including Austin, Boston, Cleveland, Houston, Kansas City, Milwaukee, Seattle, St. Louis, Toronto, and more. Merck also operates stationary Curiosity Cubes at its sites in St. Louis, Missouri, USA and Darmstadt, Germany. This underscores the company’s commitment to the communities where many of its employees live and work.

To learn more about the Curiosity Cube mobile science lab and view the 2024 tour schedule, visit TheCuriosityCube.com and follow the Curiosity Cube on Instagram @curiositycube_merck.