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International Year of Chemistry 2011
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Arkema is pleased to be part of the International Year of Chemistry (IYC), and so help raise awareness of the fundamental role our industry plays in fulfilling the needs of society. Through various events to be held throughout the year, Arkema will demonstrate its capacity for innovation as well as its commitment to a chemical sector that is able to rise to the challenges of the 21st century by bringing solutions to sustainable development.
Partnering the official ceremony for the international launch of IYC on January 27th and 28th, Arkema attended the UNESCO headquarters for exchanges with the many guests from the scientific, industrial and academic worlds. During the ceremony, Thierry Le Hénaff, Arkema President and Chief Executive Officer, addressed the audience on the increasingly relevant topic of « chemistry and tomorrow's materials » as part of a series of presentations by industrialists and scientists on the major issues and challenges of sustainable development.
A sponsor of Palais de la découverte* for the last 2 years, Arkema has decided to celebrate the International Year of Chemistry at this venue with 5 high points throughout the year. A series of animations will be presented to the general public by Palais de la découverte mediators on « The secret bonds of molecules », « Cultivating plastics », « User-friendly solvent-free paints », and « The unsuspected sources of new energies ». Visitors will also be able to take up the challenges of chemistry and the environment by taking part in « Mission to Carbon City », a role play event designed by the Axelera** competitiveness cluster and made available by Arkema.
Finally, as part of its Common Ground® community relations initiative involving people living near its manufacturing plants, Arkema will organize at most of its sites throughout 2011 various events to meet the public and celebrate the IYC: visits, exhibitions, conference debates, meetings with elected officials, the world of education, the press, etc., in order to initiate dialogue on Arkema’s chemistry, innovations, challenges, etc., and so ensure that 2011 delivers a wealth of exchanges that puts chemistry in the spotlight.
* Palais de la découverte is a Universcience venue.
** Axelera is the Lyon & Rhône-Alpes Chemistry-Environment Competitiveness Cluster.
