A Decade of Curiosity: A Mid-Year Look at SPARK’s Momentum

NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESS Newswire / August 6, 2026 / As MilliporeSigma, the U.S. and Canada Life Science business of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, celebrates the 10th anniversary of SPARK™, its global employee volunteer program continues to demonstrate the power of curiosity, connection and community impact. Since launching in 2016, SPARK™ has empowered employees around the world to share their time, talents and passion for science with communities around the world where the company operates. This year, that momentum has only grown.

Through the first half of 2026, SPARK volunteers have contributed 15,686 volunteer hours across 768 events, engaging 2,889 unique employee volunteers and reaching 60,207 students through direct-to-student programs in 26 countries. These figures are more than numbers; they represent thousands of meaningful interactions helping to inspire the next generation of STEM professionals and support communities.

Curiosity Cube™ – Bringing Hands-On Science to Students Around the Globe

One of the flagship SPARK™ programs, the Curiosity Cube™, continues to bring its engaging STEM learning experiences directly to students with the help of employees and volunteers from university partners. This year’s tour spans North America, Europe and Southern Africa, with new stops added in Durham, North Carolina, Poland, Serbia, Slovakia, and Zambia.

So far in 2026, the Curiosity Cube™ has engaged 747 employee volunteers, who have contributed 5,072 volunteer hours to deliver hands-on STEM experiences to students around the world. An additional 159 volunteers from partners such as the University of Leicester, University of Pretoria and University of Oxford have dedicated 1,923 hours in support of the program. Together, these volunteers have supported 204 events across 12 countries, reaching 28,214 students and helping spark curiosity through interactive science learning opportunities.

Curiosity Labs™ – Igniting Curiosity Through Classroom Discovery

While the Curiosity Cube™ travels far and wide, Curiosity Labs™ creates lasting impact closer to home by connecting students directly with local MilliporeSigma employee volunteers. Across company sites around the world, employees bring inquiry-based science lessons into local classrooms, helping students apply scientific concepts to real-world challenges.

Curiosity Labs™ has also continued to expand its reach in 2026, providing access to hands-on STEM opportunities. In the first half of the year, through the dedication of 550 employees who have volunteered 3,153 hours, the program has delivered 463 lessons and reached 11,123 students across 13 countries, connecting young learners with STEM professionals and real-world scientific exploration.

Whether facilitating an experiment in a classroom or sharing insights about their own career journeys, employee volunteers continue to show students that science is for everyone.

“In Gillingham and Poole, UK, seeing 50 of our colleagues – more than 25% of our employees – give their time so willingly is a testament to the passion we have for inspiring the next generation,” said Jacky Bransome, Life Science GSA Global Customer Service Partner and Gillingham and Poole SPARK™ Lead, Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany. “The highlight for all of us so far this year has been welcoming over 600 local school children to the Curiosity Cube™ in Gillingham. Being able to extend that experience with hands-on Curiosity Labs™ lessons made it even more meaningful. Watching those children get their first real taste of science and seeing the excitement on their faces is exactly why we keep showing up year after year.”

Looking Ahead – Building on a Decade of Impact

In the second half of 2026, the company remains focused on extending its impact and continuing to expand access to high-quality STEM education experiences and create meaningful opportunities for employees to make a difference in their communities. With the support of dedicated volunteers, partners and schools, SPARK™ continues working toward its goal over the next decade to reach two million students through direct programming and 75 million students through nonprofit partners, log 650,000 volunteer hours from employees across 66 countries, expand the Curiosity Cube™ to three additional continents and deliver 12,000 Curiosity Labs™ lessons.

Ten years after its launch, SPARK™ continues to demonstrate how the power of employee volunteerism can inspire a lifetime of curiosity.

To learn more about SPARK™ and other MilliporeSigma employee volunteer initiatives, visit the company’s Sustainability & Social Business Innovation page.

Employees in St. Louis, MO volunteer to pack 20,000 meals for those in need with Rise Against Hunger.

Find more stories and multimedia from MilliporeSigma at 3blmedia.com.

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SOURCE: MilliporeSigma

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