Merck, a leading science and technology company, is proud to support DeadlyScience’s new program DeadlyLab to create STEM learning kits for students in remote areas. The kits will explore chemistry, physics, and biology with experiments based in Indigenous science.
DeadlyScience was founded in 2019 by proud Kamilaroi man Corey Tutt OAM, and has delivered more than 20,000 books, 500 telescopes and countless other learning tools to students in remote communities.
Now, Merck and DeadlyScience are partnering with Indigenous communities, Elders, and Indigenous subject-matter experts to create experiments, complete with worksheets and video tutorials, that can be used in school classrooms or at home.
“We work with hundreds of remote schools, who collectively have more than 28,000 students. Over 75% are Indigenous.
“We want to get them engaged with science, help them learn with play and hands-on experience, and show them Indigenous scientists. You can’t be what you can’t see,” says Corey.
The first kit, themed around chemistry, is currently under development with the Garawa and the Gunindiri peoples at Robinson River in rural Northern Territory.
“We’ve had the privilege of listening and learning to the acting principal of Robinsons River School, as well as two Indigenous elders, Patsy Anne and Susan.
The students are also really keen. Right now, we’re mulling over some great suggestions for chemistry experiments, including making soap and testing bush medicine for bio-active substances,” says Corey.
Merck and DeadlyScience aim to distribute the first kit to approximately 500 children across a range of remote communities and follow the impacts on indigenous STEM education and engagement.
“We’re excited to work with Corey, who was recognised on Monday with a Medal of the Order of Australia for service to Indigenous STEM — science, technology, engineering, and maths education,” she says.
“We have a commitment to science education programs and are passionate about sparking curiosity in the next generation of scientists. The DeadlyLab STEM program perfectly aligns with our science education outreach programs which are modelled on the principles of inclusion and equity. Partnering with DeadlyScience also enables our organization to give back locally and effectively engage our employees in meaningful volunteer opportunities.” says Rebecca.
“Science is at the heart of everything we do at Merck”, adds Josie Downey, Managing Director of Healthcare at Merck ANZ.
“It is such a privilege to join forces with DeadlyScience, to have the opportunity to listen and learn, co-create and support First Nation young scientists to unleash their potential,” says Josie.
The intern program is part of DeadlyScience larger goal of creating long-term connections, says Corey. “We never, under any circumstances, want to send a single kit to a student and let the relationship end there. These children deserve extended support. “With Merck’s partnership, we could create a meaningful and long-term program that we believe will have a memorable impact.”
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Key Facts:
DeadlyScience have delivered more than 20,000 books and 500 telescopes to remote communities.
Now they will create and deliver experiments based on Indigenous science.
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About Merck
Merck, a leading science and technology company, operates across life science, healthcare and electronics. Around 60,000 employees work to make a positive difference to millions of people’s lives every day by creating more joyful and sustainable ways to live. From advancing gene editing technologies and discovering unique ways to treat the most challenging diseases to enabling the intelligence of devices – the company is everywhere. In 2021, Merck generated sales of € 19.7 billion in 66 countries.
Scientific exploration and responsible entrepreneurship have been key to Merck’s technological and scientific advances. This is how Merck has thrived since its founding in 1668. The founding family remains the majority owner of the publicly listed company. Merck holds the global rights to the Merck name and brand. The only exceptions are the United States and Canada, where the business sectors of Merck operate as MilliporeSigma in life science, EMD Serono in healthcare, and EMD Electronics in electronics.
