Mentoring students and helping teachers across the globe

Mentoring students: Each year, young students are matched with scientists at NIBR locations around the world to learn more about science and the wonderful opportunities available to make a real difference in the lives of patients.

NIBR outreach programs, such as NetPals in Cambridge, Mass, U.S., and Young Scientist Day or Forward to A-Level Global Discovery Chemistry in Horsham, U.K, actively recruit youngsters to meet and work closely with scientist-mentors. “So many students have said, 'I had no idea that there were careers like yours!'” said Julia H., a research chemist at the NIBR Horsham Campus near London. She has organized outreach programs for students from five to 18 years old since 1992. “The real satisfaction comes when you meet a young chemist in a lab here, who says, 'Do you remember me? I took part in one of your programs'.”

“In our neighborhood schools today are the scientists of tomorrow, but many find the field irrelevant. The impact of science on drug discovery means we must help to engage these students.”
Mark Fishman, President of NIBR

Seventh grader Meazza S, (right) and NIBR Scientist Thanh T. (left) discuss their heat conductivity experiment at a poster session at Cambridgeport School.

Helping students to advance: In the U.S., Novartis scientists mentor middle school students from the Cambridgeport School near Boston. Scientists and students meet and email throughout the school year focusing on science assignments that culminate with a science fair and graduation.

Cambridgeport Science Teacher Moses L. says, “The students are inquisitive and want to know how things work in everyday life. Their interactions with their NetPals at Novartis keep them excited about technology and scientific explanations of everyday phenomenon.”