The Curiosity Cube™, a retrofitted shipping container that has been turned into a mobile science lab, provides a learning environment that immerses visitors of all ages in specific science topics through hands-on experiments and state of the art technology. The program supports the daily work of teachers by offering tools and resources that most schools don't have access to. The Curiosity Cube program focuses on visiting schools with higher socio-economic challenges, with 94% of the schools visited belonging in this category.
In total, the Curiosity Cube™ has traveled 30,000 kilometers across North America and engaged students in 24 communities. Feedback showed that following the visit, 94% of students increased their understanding of life science terminology and 74% of students expressed interest in science.
The program began in 2017, as a platform to increase access to science education in elementary and middle schools. The concept of The Curiosity Cube™ is actually based on our Curiosity Labs™ program, in which our employees go into classrooms and conduct hands-on experiments with a class. With the Curiosity Cube™, we’re able to extend our impact beyond the classroom and reach even more students and their families. This is critical because according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) sector is growing faster than any other in the U.S., yet there are more STEM opportunities than there are students to fill these positions. With an expanding workforce that calls for more graduates to fill the pipeline, The Curiosity Cube is a new way to engage students in STEM learning. Because the hands-on science activities are led by MilliporeSigma employees, many of whom are scientists, the experience allows visitors to ask questions and discuss the possibilities of a future career in STEM. The experiences also introduce students to technology they may not normally have access to including, digital microscopes, virtual reality and 3D printing. Science industry experts agree that hands-on experiences are critical to sparking student interest in STEM careers.
The container travels throughout North America and Canada visiting schools, summer camps and public spaces, including parks, libraries, festivals and museums. Since the program began in 2017, we have reached nearly 75,000 students with more than 250 events in dozens of cities. Approximately 94% of the schools we visited were classified as Title 1, meaning that a higher percentage of students face socio-economic challenges. Our goal is to spark scientific curiosity and passion early — paving the way to a future filled with innovative breakthroughs and encouraging students to pursue careers in STEM fields.
