Arkema has signed a three-year partnership agreement with Fondation C.Génial and brings its support to this association to valorize science and technology with high school students in France.
Arkema has been involved with the world of education for many years in order to help shed light on the role of chemistry in everyday life. Explaining and teaching chemistry is one of the priorities of its Common Ground® communication program.
With this partnership, the Group is committed to bolstering its initiatives targeting young people by publicizing chemistry and the jobs which this sector offers.
Arkema rallies to boost scientific literacy in France
By signing this partnership with Fondation C.Génial, Arkema reaffirms its commitment to boosting the appeal of science with young people and developing exchanges between business and the world of education by taking part in flagship actions offered by the Foundation:
- Teachers in business and industry: in 2015 Arkema’s research center in Lacq (France) and in 2014 the Lannemezan plant (France) welcomed groups of teachers for a tour of their sites and exchanges with our employees. A number of other Group sites will take part in the 2016 edition scheduled in November.
- Engineers and technicians in the classroom: on 8 December 2015, at a job information event, three female employees from the Lannemezan plant talked to some 60 students from a high school in Tarbes (France), highlighting and promoting the role of women in science jobs.
- The C.Génial competition: the two winning teams of the 2016 edition of the C.Génial national competition will visit the Group’s newest research center based in Venette (France) dedicated to adhesives and the development of innovative solutions for sustainable housing.
Actions in favor of education around the world over many years
Close to 300 initiatives were conducted in favor of education as part of Common Ground® in 2015.
In France, all our sites open their doors to the outside world, and many employees are involved in explaining the Group’s chemical activities, presenting its latest innovations, engaging in dialog, and sharing their know-how with the public at large. They also take part in forums dedicated to employment, testifying to the diversity of jobs in this industry.
In the United States, in 1996 Arkema Inc. created a chemistry teaching module dedicated to the world of education called “Science Teacher Program”. Hundreds of researchers and teachers have already benefited from the scheme, and so have been able to pass on their experience to tens of thousands of schoolchildren.
In the same spirit, in Asia, the sites also offer their support to schools in the vicinity of the plants and R&D centers in China and in Japan.