WILMINGTON, Del. — The Charter School of Wilmington (CSW) will expand its course offerings in science-related disciplines this school year thanks in part to equipment and instruments donated by area companies, including Thermo Fisher Scientific.

Thermo Fisher has provided five Thermo Scientific NanoDrop 1000 UV-Vis spectrophotometers to CSW, a 2013 U.S. Department of Education National Blue Ribbon School, as the school adds to its science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) initiatives. The NanoDrop microvolume spectrophotometers will be used by chemistry and biology students, including AP Physics, AP Chemistry and Engineering. This includes students enrolled in a nanotechnology course, which has been added to the school’s science curriculum for 2014-15. The instruments will enable teachers to provide a practical educational experience, intended to make learning memorable.

“We are excited that our students will have these instruments at their disposal, and we’re extremely appreciative of the generosity exhibited by Thermo Fisher,” said Conrad Rice, science department chair, CSW. “This donation will allow our students to continue to explore STEM initiatives in a hands-on, real-world way.”

In addition to the NanoDrop 1000 spectrophotometers, Thermo Fisher has donated a lab chair, a Thermo Scientific Finnpipette F1 and various supplies, including pipette tips and lab wipes, needed to conduct lab experiments. The spectrophotometers were part of Thermo Fisher’s try-buy program, which provides scientists and lab technicians a one-week trial period to evaluate a NanoDrop instrument before making a purchase. These retired instruments were the precursors to the Thermo Scientific NanoDrop 2000/200c microvolume spectrophotometers.

“When we found out that the Charter School of Wilmington was seeking equipment to enhance its course offerings this year, we were only too eager to assist,” said Jeff Leslie, customer and technical support manager, molecular spectroscopy, Thermo Fisher Scientific. “The NanoDrop 1000 spectrophotometer is part of a revolutionary product line and will provide an added dimension to the educational opportunities for students in the lab. We’re confident that these students will be making a difference in the scientific community for years to come as a result of their experiences at CSW.”

For more information on how Thermo Fisher Scientific supports community initiatives, please visit www.thermofisher.com/responsibility.

About Thermo Fisher Scientific

Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. is the world leader in serving science, with revenues of $17 billion and 50,000 employees in 50 countries. Our mission is to enable our customers to make the world healthier, cleaner and safer. We help our customers accelerate life sciences research, solve complex analytical challenges, improve patient diagnostics and increase laboratory productivity. Through our four premier brands – Thermo Scientific, Life Technologies, Fisher Scientific and Unity Lab Services – we offer an unmatched combination of innovative technologies, purchasing convenience and comprehensive support. For more information, please visit www.thermofisher.com.