It’s back on an even bigger and better tour! The Curiosity Cube, a mobile science laboratory run by science and technology company Merck, embarked on its fifth international tour in 2023 to continue to spark interest in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) among school-age children.
This year’s tour included a recent stop in Manchester, where 314 students from St Clare’s RC Primary School and St Malachy’s RC Primary School turned scientists for the day, becoming immersed in present-day science topics and participating in hands-on experiments.
Inside the Curiosity Cube, pupils interacted with cutting-edge technology including virtual reality (VR), alongside other scientific equipment that made learning fun and engaging. They conducted three experiments to learn about contaminants and gained a glimpse into the world of a scientist by:
- Exploring evidence of environmental contamination in a variety of samples and learning ways conservationists try to mitigate the negative environmental impact of contamination.
- Working with VR technology to discover what contaminants are commonly found on classroom surfaces and learn how to stop their spread.
- Using scientific instruments to run a quality control test on different beverages to determine if any contaminants are present.
Josh, a University of Manchester Phd student and Curiosity Cube volunteer, shared:
“I volunteered today because I am really invested in sparking curiosity into the next generation of engineers and scientists. I’ve always been a passionate about it from my youth, so it’s great to give back to the community and inspire the next generation. I’ve been part of the food contamination station, teaching students about all the different forms of contamination within food and how we test different products to make sure it’s safe for us to consume.”
The Curiosity Cube, a 7×2.5 metre retrofitted shipping container, was created in 2017 as a platform to immerse young minds in STEM subjects in a fun and memorable way. Its impact extends well beyond the classroom to reach more students and their families at schools and public events. Merck partnered with the university of Manchester who sent students to volunteer and lead all experiments; they used their ever-developing scientific knowledge to answer visitors’ questions and teach firsthand about the power of STEM careers.
There is a shortage of STEM professionals worldwide as growth in STEM occupations outpace non-STEM occupations. According to the European Commission, by 2030, there will be 50 million open vacancies worldwide for positions requiring STEM skills. With an expanding workforce that calls for more graduates to fill the pipeline, it is crucial to engage school-age children early and open their eyes to the importance, the excitement and the possibilities of STEM.
Also in attendance at the school was Unity Radio, who were shooting footage as part of their own youth focussed projects.
“It was a pleasure to be invited to the Merck Curiosity Cube at St Clare’s RC Primary School. All the students seemed to really enjoy it, everyone was getting stuck in and seemed to be learning a lot.
“Unity Radio understands the value of these types of experiences for children, as we run our own courses, workshops and youth projects that support the next generation to fulfil their ambitions. So, it was a real privilege to be involved with the Curiosity Cube – hopefully it encourages plenty of the students take inspiration and develop greater interest in STEM.” said DJ Basha, Presenter and Producer at Unity Radio.
The Curiosity Cube debuted in Europe a year ago, impacting more than 11,800 visitors at 92 events. Last year’s visitors had the opportunity to learn about the microbiome – the billions of bacteria in all of us that help our bodies to function properly – before operating ‘bacteria robots’ to understand what influences the microbiome, using digital microscopes to learn about different types of bacteria that make up the microbiome and finally, creating their unique microbiome.
This year’s international tour will engage 45,000 visitors at schools and public spaces via more than 250 events across 13 countries in Europe and North America. In Europe, the Curiosity Cube will make stops in Belgium, the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Liechtenstein, the Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland and the U.K.
To learn more about the Curiosity Cube and see the complete 2023 tour schedule, please visit TheCuriosityCube.com. You can also follow the Curiosity Cube on Instagram at @curiositycube_merck.
