Program Impact
Since launching in Philadelphia 40 years ago, GSK Science in the Summer™ has reached more than 400,000 youth nationwide.
Each year, The Franklin Institute partners with an external evaluator to conduct an independent evaluation of the program's reach, efficacy, and impact. Below are highlights from the 2026 program, Be a Chemist!
A learner writes observations down in their lab notebook
during 2026 Be a Chemist!
Read the 2026 GSK Science in the Summer™ executive summary – coming soon!
To learn more about how your organization can participate in GSK Science in the Summer, visit our National or Philadelphia-area network pages.
Program Goals
YOUTH To increase youth's interest and confidence in doing science and pursuing STEM careers, especially youth in under-resourced communities.
Science in the Summer aims to do this by providing opportunities for youth to:
- Embody science careers. Role-play and imagination are important ways that youth practice skills and learn to identify with careers and roles. Science in the Summer activities invite youth to take on the role of different scientists by framing each activity with a storyline that provides real-world context for the phenomena they are investigating through that career.
- Think scientifically. The program’s activities encourage youth to recognize and develop scientific practices such as asking questions, making observations and predictions, and drawing conclusions from evidence.
- Have fun! The program focuses on creating memorable, engaging science experiences rather than acquiring new science knowledge. Creating moments of excitement and connections to youth's everyday experience helps build positive attitudes and confidence in science and STEM careers.
Learners watch the 2026 Be a Chemist! program introduction
video prior to beginning an experiment.
EDUCATORS To support educators to build the confidence and skills to facilitate high-quality informal STEM experiences for youth.
ORGANIZATIONS To build organization capacity to provide high-quality STEM programming.
Who Participated This Year?
In 2026, a total of 21,136 youth participated in the GSK Science in the Summer program Be a Chemist!
PHILADELPHIA AREA 34 youth-serving organizations located at 134 sites delivered the program to 5,127 youth locally. A total of 3,309 youth in the Philadelphia area participated in a free field trip to The Franklin Institute as part of the Science in the Summer program.
NATIONALLY 24 museums and science centers collaborated with 241 sites to deliver the program to 16,009 youth across the United States.
UNITED KINGDOM Science in the Summer programming was piloted in the U.K. for the first time in May 2026. More details to come.
In 2026, a total of 389 educators were trained and delivered the Be a Chemist! program. All educators were trained by a staff member at The Franklin Institute or a program lead from their local organization, using training materials created and supplied by TFI.
TFI works directly with youth-serving organizations in the Philadelphia area.
TFI partners with museums and science centers across the U.S. to provide SIS programming nationally.
SIS programming was piloted in the U.K. for this first time in May 2026.
2026 Impact Reporting
Expand the accordions below to read more about GSK Science in the Summer™ program impacts.
What is the program's impact on youth?
Each summer, learners participate in five hands-on activities built around a different science theme. This theme highlights the career opportunities in this field with the goal of youth seeing themselves as scientists.
- 82% of 2nd to 6th graders agreed that GSK SIS made them more interested in science.
Science in the Summer has also contributed to stronger student engagement and retention. Students look forward to participating each year, and the hands-on, interactive nature of the program encourages regular attendance and sustained interest in STEM. Families have shared positive feedback about their children's excitement for science, and many continue to express curiosity and confidence in exploring scientific concepts long after the program ends.
– 2026 Philadelphia-area Program Lead
- 84% of 2nd to 6th graders agreed that they learned about jobs that use science in GSK SIS.
It helps us see how you can make career connections with youth and [how] children, even as young as second through sixth grade, can be the scientist. They can be at the center of the learning experience and call themselves, “I am the chemist,” “I am the astronaut or the space scientist.” It gives them agency, which is really important.
– 2026 National Program Lead
- 89% of 2nd to 6th graders agreed that GSK SIS showed them they can do science.
I think before the Science in the Summer program, if a student ... didn't get the right answer, we would be the ones doing the heavy explaining. “Okay, that's okay. This is why it didn't work. This is what you do. Why don't you do it with me.” But I think since Science in the Summer it’s, “okay, this didn't work. What's the next step? What is the outcome we want to reach? How do we get there?"
– 2026 National Program Lead
- 89% of 2nd to 6th graders agreed that they felt included during GSK SIS.
One thing I learned from facilitating Science in the Summer is the importance of adapting instruction to meet the needs of diverse learners. ... I also learned that hands-on STEM activities spark curiosity and engagement of all ages and abilities when they are given the opportunity to explore, ask questions, and learn through discovery. This experience reinforced the value of flexible teaching and the positive impact that accessible, inquiry-based science education can have on every student.
– 2026 Philadelphia-area Program Lead
Learners test water pH during 2026 Be a Water Chemist! activities.
What is the program's impact on educators?
All educators delivering Science in the Summer programming are trained by The Franklin Institute staff or an organizational coordinator who has been trained by TFI. TFI offers asynchronous, interactive online training units that orient the educators to the curriculum and science facilitation techniques. TFI also hosts in-person hands-on trainings for Philadelphia-area participants. Once trained, educators receive all materials and content needed to deliver the program, as well as ongoing support from TFI and their host organization.
- 88% of educators agreed that their ability to facilitate STEM activities had increased after GSK SIS.
I learned a bit about chemistry and a lot about encouraging curious minds to be more comfortable thinking of themselves as scientists!
– 2026 Philadelphia-area educator
- 84% of Philadelphia-area and 76% of national educators agreed that their likelihood of including STEM activities in non-GSK SIS programs/classes had increased after GSK SIS.
It did spark my teachers to then ask me, “Hey, how can we spruce up our science area? What can we add, so that we could keep this momentum going from our excitement from the summer throughout the school year?”... It's been very eye-opening to the way we approach science.
– 2026 Philadelphia-area educator and Program Lead
- 80% of Program Leads noticed effects on how their educators are teaching that could be attributed to skills they learned as part of teaching with GSK SIS.
It's definitely something that's become more of a habit in all areas of our program where we're asking those kinds of more open-ended questions rather than yes or no questions, whether we're talking about a book that we've read - “Well, what do you think this character meant? What do you think the author meant when they said this?” Questions that I personally wouldn't have thought to pose to elementary or middle schoolers in that way... And I see my staff doing that in other areas beyond science.
– 2026 Philadelphia-area educator and Program Lead
All SIS educators receive training in curriculum content and facilitation strategies,
either in-person at TFI or through a partner institution.
What is the program’s impact on participating organizations?
Science in the Summer participants are part of a network of organizations that receive professional development, training materials, and physical supplies to support delivery of the SIS curriculum, allowing Philadelphia-area and national organizations to bring equitable STEM experiences to their communities.
- 84% of Program Leads agreed that their organization has greater capacity to support their educators in delivering STEM activities after GSK SIS.
The training and curriculum enhanced our staff's knowledge, confidence, and expertise in facilitating inquiry-based science activities that engage students with diverse learning needs and backgrounds. The program also expanded the educational opportunities we can offer during our summer services by incorporating interactive STEM experiences that promote critical thinking, problem-solving, collaboration, and curiosity.
– 2026 Philadelphia-area Program Lead
- 89% of Program Leads agreed that their organization has greater capacity to engage their program participants in STEM activities after GSK SIS.
Our students have been so happy to do science-based lessons and lead their own investigations as they ask questions and follow their curiosity with guiding from facilitators. They look forward to the program and I believe it has helped attendance and retention for our program.
– 2026 Philadelphia-area Program Lead
- Several organizations noted that they were able to form new partnerships found a lot of value in these relationships.
One of the things I really like is we have to offer this ... free of charge. And so that's been nice because there are organizations that don't always have funds to bring us in, or to bring us in at the level they want. And so I feel like Science in the Summer lets us offer programming and things to community partners that we don't always get to work with. It's also a great opportunity to forge new relationships with groups because, since they're not paying for it, they're very much like, “Yeah, sure, come,” and then very often are interested in having additional offerings that we have as well.
– 2026 National Program Lead
- National and Philadelphia-area organizations both noted how resources provided by the Franklin Institute, including training, materials, and funds, have allowed these organizations to continue to offer and expand STEM programming.
After receiving Science in the Summer training and administering the SIS programs this summer, our designated STEM Specialists ... have both the knowledge and experience to apply what they've learned and design their own science programming during the school year.
– 2026 Philadelphia-area Program Lead
We've started offering previous years' activities as standalone and series programs, which has been a great way of expanding what we offer with high-quality programs that educators can learn quickly.
– 2026 National Program Lead
Educators get familiar with 2026 Be a Chemist! materials during an in-person training at TFI.