Raising awareness of careers in science and industry is an important part of our responsibility to the next generation. Many of our employees spend time engaging with schools and educational centers, providing support and advice.
Catalyst Science Discovery Center, Widnes, UK
Our Ellesmere Port, UK site has a long-term partnership with the Catalyst Science Discovery Centre, providing training and resources so that they can hold workshops on personal care chemistry. In 2018, we supported three workshops for approximately 120 students aged between 13 and 14 years, supplying the formulations and ingredients needed to blend into personal care products. We also supported the Centre’s Chemistry at Work Week, which attracted over 300 students and their teachers. Our team went along to inspire teenagers from the North West of the UK about careers in the science industry, promoting the benefits of being employed in this sector and helping young people understand the relevance of science in their everyday lives.
Supporting Education in Schools
We were pleased to be part of the Whitby High School, Ellesmere Port, UK’s annual science day once again in 2018. Our employees introduced approximately 110 pupils aged between 13 and 14 to Innospec and our surfactant science. We also took part for the second time in the ESSAR bi-annual ‘STEAM’ (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) festival at the National Boat Museum in Ellesmere Port, UK. The Performance Chemicals team held workshops on the science of shampoos for approximately 100 students aged between 10 and 11.
A similar surfactant workshop was also presented to 50 school children aged between 11 and 12 in Leipzig, Germany. The event was such a success with the students that we are hoping to be able to take part again in 2019. Our Castiglione, Italy site organized for local secondary school chemistry students to visit and tour our laboratory facilities. Herne, Germany organized a student trial day and St Mihiel, France established a partnership with the chemistry department at its local university.
Supporting Education in University
Our Fuel Specialties business continued their support of the University of Plock, Poland, providing specialist fuel technology lectures on fuel additives science and technology to over 300 third-year chemical and engineering students and local refinery workers. Employees from the business also provided regular classes and additive samples for practical laboratory workshops.
“Working with the University of Plock is a great way to connect with the communities in which we operate. The students are always really engaged in our lectures. It gives them a practical understanding of how to apply the skills and theories they are learning in the ‘real’ world. We see it as our responsibility to support and inspire the next generation of chemists and engineers in our region.” Jan Eirmann, Sales Manager, Fuel Specialties, EMEA
