Science is most exciting when it's experienced firsthand. That principle is the driving force behind Genzyme's science education programs, which connect our employees with local students for immersive experiences designed to spark their curiosity and inspire their interest in the many facets of science.
Our Scientists in the School program is a global volunteer initiative that sends Genzyme scientists into local schools and community organizations to work directly with students, share knowledge, and get them excited about biotechnology and other related fields.
Activities may be as simple as mentoring a student or speaking at a career day. Or they can be more involved projects that introduce students to hands-on experimental techniques and critical scientific thinking. Our employee volunteers also introduce students to their workplaces, opening students' eyes to career prospects in biotechnology.
Feature Story
Waterford Scientists in the Schools
Employees at our Waterford, Ireland, site have found creative ways to make science fun and exciting for children in several local schools.
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In 2009 we launched a new signature program to leverage the resources of our state-of-the-art Science Center which opened in Framingham, Massachusetts, in 2008. The Genzyme Science Kids program invites local middle school students into the Center to learn about the work happening there and experience it themselves through a series of interactive stations. Under the guidance of Genzyme scientists, the students explore topics such as DNA replication, tissue repair, and arthroscopy using equipment that simulates real-world science, such as performing surgery to repair a mock knee. Our goal is to motivate more students to continue studying science – and perhaps even return one day as Genzyme employees.
Science Makes Students' Lives "Fuller"
In 2012, Fuller Middle School recognized the Genzyme Science Kids Program Volunteers with the John Ebb Award, which is given to people outside the school who have made enormous contributions to Fuller students. Since the program's inception, over 200 Fuller students have had the opportunity to interact with Genzyme employees and get a glimpse of what it's like to be a scientist.
The future of Genzyme's innovative leadership depends on talented young scientists continuing to enter the field. Through our scholarship programs, we offer opportunities for students seeking higher education and a career in science.
Since 1994 we've been awarding the Genzyme Corporation Biotechnology Scholarship to graduating seniors or college students studying life sciences, who live in the Allston-Brighton, Mass., community where Genzyme has had a longstanding presence. We award individual scholarships of $1,000-$5,000 to multiple students, totaling over $332,000 to date since the program's founding.
Allston-Brighton Students: Apply for the Biotechnology Scholarship
Applications are now being accepted for the Genzyme Corporation Allston-Brighton Biotechnology Scholarship. Applications are due May 15.
View the guidelines, eligibility, and application.
In 2000 we established the yearly Genzyme Science Scholarship Award. It distributes a $1,000 scholarship to an exceptional science student from each of our designated partner high schools in the local communities of all our U.S. sites. Applications for this scholarship are handled individually by the schools, so interested students should speak to their schools for more information.
Science education is a significant focus of Genzyme's charitable giving strategy. While many of our grants go toward student and school programs, we also partner with educational and community groups on projects that raise awareness about science among people of all ages. Here are some highlights of our recent efforts, many of which also involved hands-on employee involvement in addition to the financial grant:
- Massachusetts State Science and Engineering Fair – In 1999 we established this science fair's top prize, the Genzyme Science Award, which now awards $10,000 – plus a paid internship valued at approximately $2500 – to the winning student, as well as $15,000 to the winning teacher and school.
- Boston Children's Museum – Our 2010 grant of $40,000 funded the Free Kits for Teachers program to develop multimedia, interdisciplinary curriculum units for this Boston institution.
- Technopolis – We've worked with the Technopolis science center in Geel, Belgium, on several projects, including a fun science education kit called "BioGenieBox" and an interactive exhibit on cell biology.
- Massachusetts Biotechnology Education Foundation – To support innovative educators who add biotechnology courses to their curriculums, we've contributed more than $20,000 to MassBioEd's Biotechnology Elective Development Program.