2013 marks the second year of the North Carolina GlaxoSmithKline Foundation’s five-year, $250,000 commitment to the North Carolina Science Festival. The North Carolina GlaxoSmithKline Foundation’s annual contribution of a $50,000 Platinum sponsorship assists in underwriting the Festival and helps organizers set a participant goal each year. In 2013, the Festival aims to involve approximately 300,000 North Carolinians in science, technology, engineering and mathematics activities across the state; 70,000 more participants than the previous year.
The North Carolina Science Festival is a statewide series of events that showcase STEM in North Carolina. It includes hands-on activities, science talks, lab tours, nature experiences, exhibits, performances and other events. This year’s Festival will run April 5-21, 2013.
“The N.C. GlaxoSmithKline Foundation is delighted to continue our support of the N.C. Science Festival because enhancing science education is at the core of what we do,” said Marilyn Foote-Hudson, executive director of the North Carolina GlaxoSmithKline Foundation. “The Festival brings STEM to life in innovative ways and engages more and more state residents each year.”
“The North Carolina GlaxoSmithKline Foundation's long-term support is crucial to the future of the Festival,” said Todd Boyette, co-founder of the North Carolina Science Festival and director of Morehead Planetarium and Science Center. “It helps us to put the necessary framework in place to expand the size of the Festival each year and to make it a great success.”
The Festival began in 2010 as an initiative of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s Morehead Planetarium and Science Center, which continues to produce events and administer the Festival.
To find out more about the 2013 N.C. Science Festival, visit the Festival’s website. Follow the Festival through a Facebook page,and through Twitter.
ABOUT THE NORTH CAROLINA GLAXOSMITHKLINE FOUNDATION
The North Carolina GlaxoSmithKline Foundation is a self-funding 501-(c)3 nonprofit organization based in Research Triangle Park that meets the educational needs of today's society and of future generations. Since its creation in 1986, the foundation has granted more than $60 million to support North Carolina programs that promote the sciences, health and education. Follow us at @ncgskfound.
ABOUT THE N.C. SCIENCE FESTIVAL
The North Carolina Science Festival is a 17-day statewide series of events showcasing science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). The Festival highlights the educational, cultural and financial impact of the STEM disciplines on North Carolina. It includes hands-on activities, science talks, lab tours, nature experiences, exhibits, performances and other events, and engages a wide range of audiences while inspiring the next generation. It serves as a vehicle for encouraging students to pursue STEM careers and for businesses to invest in North Carolina. The 2013 Festival Champion is Time Warner Cable. 2013 Platinum sponsors include Biogen Idec Foundation, Burroughs Wellcome Fund, NC GlaxoSmithKline Foundation and SAS. 2013 Gold Sponsors include Duke Energy Foundation and Google. The Festival is an initiative of UNC-Chapel Hill’s Morehead Planetarium and Science Center.