2011 International Year of Chemistry (IYC) / EPCA Launches Educational Initiative for Chemical Industry's Future

Brüssel, Belgien (ots) - EPCA (The European Petrochemical
Association) wants to increase the chemical sector's attractiveness
to young people and therefore decided to foster better links between
the chemical industry and educational establishments. In this context
EPCA concluded 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
programme. The guidelines propose an innovative and multi-
disciplinary approach to chemistry teaching and will confront
youngsters early on in their chemistry education with real life cases
(http://chemistryallaboutyou.eun.org).

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.

Moreover, EPCA already organized a students' workshop on the
occasion of its Annual Meeting in October 2011: EPCA invited 14 award
winning students in chemistry and related fields from all over the
world to join representatives of the chemical industry. The workshop
opened new horizons for their careers as the students understood that
they could enjoy wide-ranging and varied careers in the chemical
sector.

Both initiatives underline EPCA's commitment to raise the profile
of the chemical industry among the general public and more
specifically among youngsters. They create a bridge between the
chemical industry and the educational world helping youngsters to
potentially prepare for a future in chemistry.

About EPCA EPCA is a non-advocacy body bringing together more than
600 global companies working in or for the petrochemical industry. It
serves as network, platform to meet, exchange information, transfer
of learning and think tank for its member companies and stakeholders
all over the world.

EPCA's membership stands for an aggregate of member companies'
turnover of more than 3.2 trillion E and 3.5 million employees
worldwide.

About European Schoolnet

European Schoolnet is an international non-profit organisation and
a network of 30 Ministries of Education in Europe and beyond. EUN
brings about innovation in teaching and learning to its key
stakeholders : Ministries of Education, schools, teachers and
researchers. European Schoolnet's activities include Policy, research
and innovation, School services and Learning resource exchange and
interoperability.

Contact information:
Maria De Ryke
tel. 32 (0) 2 741 86 60
communications@epca.eu

www.epca.eu
www.chemistryallaboutyou.com
communications@epca.eu

You can follow EPCA on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and EPCA blog:
http://twitter.com/EPCA2011IYC
http://www.facebook.com/epcaiyc2011
http://www.youtube.com/user/epca2011iyc
http://epca2011iyc.worldpress.com