For the fourth year running, the Curiosity Cube – a mobile science lab designed to make STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) learning accessible and fun – has returned to Gillingham as part of its European tour, sparking curiosity among hundreds of local students.

Backed by the global science and technology company Merck, the travelling lab aims to inspire young people to explore careers in STEM and to break down barriers to science education.

This year, some 559 students from Gillingham School, Mere School, Wincanton Primary and other local schools became ‘scientists for a day”, working alongside Merck employees and volunteers from the company’s SPARK™ programme.

But the Gillingham stop is no ordinary visit. Each year, the local Merck team organises a dedicated STEM week, bringing together pupils from across North Dorset and South Wiltshire. Alongside their visit to the Curiosity Cube, students also take part in Curiosity Labs™ experiments and step inside the “explorer dome” to learn more about the world around them.

Students explored real-world science through three hands-on experiments linked to artificial intelligence – focusing on image authenticity, pattern recognition and self-driving cars. The aim is to show that science is not confined to classrooms or laboratories but is part of everyday life, while helping students develop the problem-solving skills needed for future careers.

The initiative comes at a time when many young people still struggle to imagine themselves in scientific roles. A recent survey funded by Merck found that nearly half, 48%, of middle school students have difficulty seeing themselves as scientists, even though they engage in STEM-related activities every day.

The Curiosity Cube, with its lively and interactive approach, helps make that connection in a fun and memorable way.

In 2024 alone, the Curiosity Cube engaged more than 43,000 students across Europe and North America, visiting 14 countries and hosting 282 events. This year marks its fourth European tour, which aims to reach 20,000 students at more than 130 events. Each stop is supported by Merck employee volunteers, who share their passion for science and offer pupils a glimpse into real-world STEM careers.

Since its launch in 2017, the Curiosity Cube has visited hundreds of communities across the globe, often focusing on areas where students have fewer opportunities to access science-based learning. This year’s European tour includes stops in Austria, the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Spain, Switzerland, the Netherlands and here in the U.K.

Jacky Bransome, LS SLS GSA Liaison and SPARK™ Team Lead in Gillingham, said:
‘Every year now for the past four years, we’ve been fortunate enough to have the Curiosity Cube come to our site. Working together with our local high school, we’ve managed to reach 600 students from 10 different schools over the period of a week.

‘During that time, in conjunction with the Curiosity Cube, we also run Curiosity Labs™ in the schools so that the students get a real taste of science and really get to spark their curiosity.’

The 2025 Curiosity Cube tour continues to bring science to life for students across Europe. Details of upcoming stops can be found at TheCuriosityCube.com, or by following the journey on Instagram at @curiositycube_merck.