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Chemours Future of Engineering, Science, Trades and Technology School Partnership Program

Inspiring a new generation of STEM professionals through early access to STEM education and mentoring

ChemFEST School Partnership Program

Nurturing the next generation of STEM professionals

Shaping the future of the world through the power of our chemistry requires great innovators and problem solvers from all backgrounds. To ensure we’re helping to find and inspire the next generation of innovators we’re partnering with schools in communities where we operate to provide early access to STEM education. Through ChemFEST, the Chemours Future of Engineering, Science, Trades and Technology School Partnership Program, we’re focusing on providing exposure and experience with STEM to middle school students to build early excitement for the sciences. The program includes financial support and hands-on volunteering and mentoring from Chemours employees who are committed to making a difference. To solve the world’s biggest challenges, we need the best and brightest talent from all populations. Through ChemFEST we’re doing our part to nurture the skills and passion needed by the next generation of STEM professionals to be a part of meeting the demands of an ever-changing world.

Every ChemFEST program represents a multi-year school partnership aimed at creating sustainable programs that make an impact in their communities for years to come. Our goal is to work directly with schools to identify their individual needs and utilize our Chemours resources and technical expertise to help them meet those needs.

STEM statistics

 

  • 0 % NON-STEM
  • 0 % STEM
  • 0 % STEM BY 2029

Employment in STEM occupations grew by 10.5% between 2009 and 2015, compared to 5.2% new growth in non-STEM occupations. By 2029, it is projected to have an additional 8% growth.6,7

Alvenia Scarborough

Alvenia Scarborough

SVP, Corporate Communications and Chief Brand Officer

Chemours is taking bold action to provide more opportunities for under-represented students to experience STEM as they form their academic and career interests. We believe the next great innovation is within these students—they are the future of STEM and Chemours.”

Group of students watching an experiment

Program Elements

  • Partnering with science departments to enhance curriculum using supplemental digital programs
  • Establishing a speaker series with Chemours experts
  • Providing volunteers for in-school STEM activities
  • Serving as coaches and judges for school sponsored science fairs
  • Providing mentors and/or shadowing opportunities for students
  • Hosting site and/or office tours at Chemours facilities

Featured Stories

Chemours Louisville Works and Farnsley Middle School cleanup crew

Louisville Works' ChemFEST Partnership With Farnsley Middle School Thrives

In the 2023-24 school year, Louisville Works was making a difference with its ChemFEST partner, Farnsley Middle School. The partnership covered a visit to the Junior Achievement, teacher recognition efforts, and a student design competition to create co-branded t-shirts. For Earth Day, Chemours volunteers joined Farnsley teachers and students to clean up the school’s campus. As the year came to a close, Farnsley held its first Choice Awards, sponsored by Chemours. The event celebrates students who may not receive traditional scholastic or athletic acknowledgement. This event demonstrated how together, Farnsley and Chemours believe in driving a better future through investment in today’s students.

4 women taking a photo for the ChemFEST partnership

Fayetteville Works Creates ChemFEST Partnership with Mac Williams Middle School

As a first step in its ChemFEST partnership with Mac Williams, Chemours granted over $29,000 in funding for Paxton Patterson lab modules, which provide students the opportunity to explore possible STEM careers through experiences in the classroom.

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Ingleside ISD School Board Members, Superintendent of Schools, and Leon Taylor Middle School Principal pictured with Chemours Representatives during Ingleside ISD School Board Meeting

Chemours’ Corpus Christi Site Establishes ChemFEST Partnership with Ingleside Independent School District

The ChemFEST school partnership program is a company-wide effort designed to champion change toward a more diverse science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) workforce.

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Chemfest at Farnsley Middle School

Chemours' Louisville Works Site Establishes ChemFEST Partnership with Farnsley Middle School

In Louisville, the partnership will support 7th and 8th grade students enrolled in Farnsley’s Engineering & Design Explore Pathway, as well as 6th grade students enrolled in the Engineering & Design pathway rotation. Chemours will engage with students through STEM showcases, after-school events, mentorship programs, science fairs, and more.

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Groundbreaking at the Chemours STEM Hub at Eastside Charter School_Dignitaries, Leaders, Faculty, Students

Chemours and EastSide Charter School Break Ground on the New Chemours STEM Hub

Based at EastSide Charter School, the Chemours STEM Hub will support improved access to STEM education in the Wilmington, Del.

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Serviam Girls Academy classroom with students

Chemours STEM professionals teach Science Lab Notebook 101 at Serviam Girls Academy

ChemFEST's first official activity at Serviam kicked off with a series of lectures to students in grades 5 through 8 on how to keep an organized lab notebook. Observing a flameproof balloon experiment, more than 50 female students learned the fundamental scientific method.

GO STEM group photo

Chemours hosts Girls Only STEM (GO-STEM) workshop at Kirk Middle School

Leaders from the Chemours Women’s Network and Chemours Asian Group hosted a Girls Only STEM (GO-STEM) workshop at Kirk Middle School in Newark, Delaware, inspiring more than 60 girls to pursue their STEM interests. Students were introduced to various careers in STEM and the need for more female representation in STEM.

Chemours Launches First European Partnership to Nuture Future STEM Talent Worldwide

Through our ChemFEST school partnership program, we’re nurturing the next generation of #STEM professionals. In 2023, we formally partnered with Technical School Mechelen in Belgium, to support STEM activities, including a visit to our Mechelen site.

Learn more about our school partners

North America Partnerships

Europe, Middle East, and Africa Partnerships

To Learn More About ChemFEST
Contact Us

References

1. Martinez, Anthony, and Cheridan Christnacht. “Women Making Gains in STEM Occupations but Still Underrepresented.” The United States Census Bureau, 26 Jan. 2021, www.census.gov/library/stories/2021/01/women-making-gains-in-stem-occupations-but-still-underrepresented.html
2. Arnim, Emily. “A Third of Minority Students Leave STEM Majors. Here's Why.” EAB, 8 Oct. 2019, eab.com/insights/daily-briefing/student-success/a-third-of-minority-students-leave-stem-majors-heres-why/.
3. Funk, Cary, and Kim Parker. “Diversity in the STEM Workforce Varies Widely across Jobs.” Pew Research Center's Social & Demographic Trends Project, Pew Research Center, 31 Dec. 2019, www.pewresearch.org/social-trends/2018/01/09/diversity-in-the-stem-workforce-varies-widely-across-jobs/.
4. Thomas, K. “Encouraging Girls (K-12) to Study STEM.” Edited by Elizabeth Mazenko, National Girls Collaborative Project, National Girls Collaborative, 19 Aug. 2016, 9:36AM, ngcproject.org/blog/encouraging-girls-k-12-to-study-stem.
5. “Emerson STEM Survey Shows Growing Interest in STEM Careers: Emerson US.” Emerson STEM Survey Shows Growing Interest in STEM Careers | Emerson US, 19 Aug. 2019, www.emerson.com/en-us/news/corporate/global-stem-survey-shows-growing-interest-in-careers-lack-of.
6. “STEM Occupations Had above-Average Growth.” U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 1 Jan. 2017, www.bls.gov/spotlight/2017/science-technology-engineering-and-mathematics-stem-occupations-past-present-and-future/home.htm#:~:text=Employment%20in%20STEM%20occupations%20grew,growth%20in%20non%2DSTEM%20occupations.
7. “Employment in STEM Occupations.” U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 9 Apr. 2021, www.bls.gov/emp/tables/stem-employment.htm.