Elkhart/Mishawaka, Indiana

The birthplace of Making Science Make Sense (MSMS), Bayer HealthCare's Elkhart and Mishawaka facilities have supported local science education for more than 40 years. Specifically, MSMS components include:

• Bayer Science Forum - a corps of 60+ employee-volunteers who oversee and implement all MSMS activities in the area.
  
  
• Explorations in Science - a program that teaches students the scientific method in two-hour lessons centered around physics, chemistry and biology by actually performing experiments.
  
  
• Building Relevancy in Developing Genuine Education (BRIDGE) - a program providing a shadowing experience for teachers with Bayer employees. The hands-on activities include a Starlab experience (inflatable planetarium) with 10 different curriculum units, a wind tunnel and a ground water/river ecosystem room.
  
  
• Employee Volunteers run several sections of the Regional Science Olympiad; support 3-6 First LEGO League teams per year; serve as mentors and science fair judges; and participate in job shadowing programs for both students and teachers. In addition, the volunteers are also active in joint programs with ETHOS Inc. (Encouraging Technology and Hands-On-Science), Healthworks! Kids’ Museum and the St. Joseph Valley American Chemical Society.