This morning, February 4, 2021, GSK announced over $1M for local nonprofits to increase equity in STEM education and careers, including funding for online science during the pandemic. GSK has selected five grantees as part of its 10-year commitment to increase the number of women and Black and Latinx Philadelphia students entering careers in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics).
These grants build on the work of the Philadelphia STEM Equity Collective, a city-wide, collaborative effort launched by GSK and the Philadelphia Education Fund in August of 2020. GSK has committed to invest $10 million over 10 years to support this effort, including grant funding for dedicated management staff at the Philadelphia Education Fund. Some of the programs receiving funding are:
- The College of Physicians STEM Internship Program, which engages high school students in a summer and academic-year after-school program, linking STEM learning with social justice issues. As part of the paid internship, participating students explore the impact of violence through STEM disciplines like public health while making a difference in their own communities.
- The Pennsylvania Society of Biomedical Research “SPARC” Program, which brings biomedical knowledge, concepts and career pathways directly to students in the greater Philadelphia region through a mobile classroom.
- The Philadelphia Robotics Coalition, which supports robotics clubs in Philadelphia public schools. Through “hands-on, minds-on” team engineering challenges, students build critical thinking, problem-solving and teamwork skills while increasing their interest and success in STEM courses and careers.
- The Wistar Institute Accelerated Biomedical Technician Training (BTT) Program, which will support 15 paid internships for Community College of Philadelphia students to engage in hands-on biomedical research training. This new, accelerated model of the 20-year old program in West Philadelphia will open doors to careers in life sciences for diverse students for whom these opportunities have been limited.
