**AstraZeneca Backs Exemplary Project**

Viewing the transfer of scientific thinking to future generations as one of its key responsibilities, AstraZeneca Turkey supported 10 teams from 5 different cities this year as in the previous year, contributing to students' involvement in scientific processes within the scope of the "Mini Science Heroes Meet" program run by Science Heroes Association in our country. AstraZeneca Turkey, which provided support for the first time last year to the 'FIRST LEGO League Explore' program, one of the world's most widespread science programs run by Science Heroes Association and implemented in Turkey under the name "Mini Science Heroes Meet", continued its contributions to elementary school children acquiring basic engineering and programming skills this year through the voluntary participation of its employees and online meetings. AstraZeneca Turkey supported 10 teams from 7 state schools and 2 Science and Art Centers in 5 different cities in 2022 as in the previous year with unconditional contributions, contributing to the involvement of 19 teachers (coaches & advisors) and 60 students in scientific processes. In the program whose 2021-2022 season theme was "CARGO CONNECT: A Package's Journey", Mini Science Heroes students worked on how cargo is transported, how it is sorted and how it is transferred to delivery points, and they designed projects on discovering sustainable transportation methods. Volunteer AstraZeneca Turkey employees who also participated in the face-to-face festivals held at the end of the term had the opportunity to observe the fun and educational experience gained by the students. The FIRST LEGO League Explore Program, implemented by FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) and LEGO Education in more than 80 countries worldwide, has been organized in Turkey under the name "Mini Science Heroes Meet" since 2014. The program differs in being a non-competitive STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) program that encourages children to conduct research and design. In the program, students learn basic engineering and programming skills with LEGO pieces. Science Heroes Association Board Chair Prof. Dr. Sıddıka Semahat Demir stated in her remarks: "We are very pleased to implement the Mini Science Heroes Meet project in its second year with the valuable support of AstraZeneca Turkey. Through this project, which incorporates volunteer work with a sustainable perspective, we have enabled more children to engage with STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) studies. Each year, our children who produce innovative ideas through team work within different themes give us hope. We greatly value collaborations that prioritize science for a better future. In line with this objective, I would like to thank the AstraZeneca Turkey team for being with us." AstraZeneca Turkey Country President Pharm. Serkan Barış, providing remarks about the project, said: "We believe that the fundamental way for our country to achieve a stronger position in the science world and to increase our society's interest in scientific studies passes through instilling a love of scientific knowledge and skills in children. Therefore, as AstraZeneca Turkey, we view transferring scientific thinking, which strengthens our foundation, to future generations as one of our most important responsibilities. I would like to thank the Science Heroes Association for enabling our participation in the project this year and all our colleagues who supported our project as volunteers for their contribution to building our country's future."