"Curiosity for Science, Sensitivity to the Environment" Movement from Merck: "SPARK"

Merck encourages young people to pursue science through its SPARK social responsibility project. In the Turkish phase of the globally-run SPARK project, volunteer Merck Turkey employees provided training to 240 students at Beykoz Vocational and Technical Anatolian High School in the first phase, and to 260 students at Özel İkitelli OSB Vocational and Technical Anatolian High School in the second phase.

Following the educational sessions aimed at fostering interest in science among future adults, awareness of environmental responsibility was also instilled through tree planting activities conducted together.

Merck, the world's oldest pharmaceutical and chemical company with approximately 350 years of history, continues to contribute to society through its principles and sense of social responsibility.

With the brand and image transformation it undertook in 2015, Merck positioned itself worldwide as a life sciences and technology company and continues to add value to people's lives through its products and services. At Merck, social responsibility awareness is part of the company's deep-rooted culture and understanding of "responsible management".

Through the SPARK Social Responsibility Project, Merck aims to reach 60,000 students globally and 500 students in Turkey, and seeks to foster in young people a curiosity about science and awareness of environmental responsibility.

SPARK project volunteers from Merck Turkey provided education to students at designated pilot schools based on their knowledge and experience.

In the first phase of the project conducted in Istanbul, a full-day training session was held at Beykoz Vocational and Technical Anatolian High School; general chemistry information was provided under the heading "Chemistry and Water" to spark students' interest in science, and experiments were conducted.

During the training, topics on laboratory safety and the importance of water for life were also covered.

At the end of the full-day training, Merck employees and students together planted lemon cypress seedlings to promote awareness of a clean environment and a greener world.

In the second phase of the project, Merck Turkey project volunteers, who provided training to 260 students at Özel İkitelli OSB Vocational and Technical Anatolian High School, stated: "Beyond ensuring that the students we train become conscious individuals, by planting trees together with them, we aim to make our increasingly polluted world a greener and more liveable place.

The flourishing of the seedlings we have planted and the ideas of the students we have educated as part of the SPARK social responsibility project will be the most gratifying outcome of this initiative."