PUPILS FROM Irvine’s secondary schools, and some surrounding primaries, got to enjoy and learn about the wonders of science after a visit from Merck’s Curiosity Cube®.

It stopped off at Greenwood Academy (pictured) and Irvine Royal Academy where pupils from both schools, as well as younger pupils from Woodlands Primary, Dreghorn Primary and Elderbank Primary, got to perform their own experiments with some expert guidance.

 

Merck Curiosity Cube at Greenwood Academy

Merck Curiosity Cube at Greenwood Academy

 

The Curiosity Cube® was introduced by science and technology company Merck – which has a location in Irvine – to promote science education and to support the next generation of scientists.

 

The Curiosity Cube® will continue to tour Europe now.

The Curiosity Cube® will continue to tour Europe now.

 

It features interactive, hands-on science experiments led by Merck employees, allowing visitors to ask questions and discuss the possibilities of a future career in Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM).

 

The pupils got to learn as well as have fun!

The pupils got to learn as well as have fun!

 

The Curiosity Cube® will travel throughout Europe and the USA and more than 100,000 young people have been given the chance to enjoy practical and exciting experiments - and this week it stopped off in Irvine.

 

The experiments were expert led by staff from the companys Irvine base.

The experiments were expert led by staff from the company's Irvine base.

 

Kelly Foster, Irvine Site Director and Head of Cell Media Operations at the Irvine, Lenexa, St. Louis Broadway sites for Merck commented: “We strive to impact the lives of people through innovative science and technology.

 

Many pupils asked how they could get a job with Merck in future.

Many pupils asked how they could get a job with Merck in future.

 

“To inspire the younger generation to be curious about science is an amazing way to bring that impact to our local community.”

While Stephen Docherty product engineering specialist and Co-ordinator of the social wellness and awareness team at Merck in Irvine added: “We are a vibrant life science company and we wanted to get the next generation of the community interested in the STEM and Merck.

“From all the feed back we have received we are aware this was a worthwhile experience for the children, we have also had a good amount of the pupils ask what they need to do to work for us at Merck when they are older!”