EPCA Launches Educational Initiative for Chemical Industry’s Future

In an effort to increase the chemical sector's attractiveness to young people, the European Petrochemical Association (EPCA) has announced a partnership with European Schoolnet (EUN) - a network of 30 Ministries of Education in Europe and beyond. The objective of this partnership is to promote chemistry as a field of study among students aged 12 to 16.

Based on its pedagogical expertise of inquiry-based science education methods, European Schoolnet developed guidelines that show teachers how they can integrate societal aspects in chemistry education and concrete applications of the discipline in the school program. The guidelines propose an innovative and multi-disciplinary approach to chemistry teaching and will confront students early on in their chemistry education with real life cases.

A further tool to illustrate chemistry's link to real life is the film "Chemistry: All About You" - developed and produced by EPCA, together with UNESCO and IUPAC. With the help of EUN, EPCA will further disseminate the film in schools in 11 European countries (Belgium, Croatia, France, Hungary, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, UK, Spain, Switzerland and Norway). The film explains how chemistry provides the global population with access, in a sustainable way, to drinking water, food, clothing, health and health care, energy- and emission-friendly building, transport, communication and education.