Rhodia's Chemistry Connection(R) Shows Students Benefits of Science, at Work in the Home

  
    
  
  
    
      Most middle school students don’t equate their 
      home with a chemistry laboratory. Yet, through Chemistry Connection® 
      demonstrations in schools around the country, they learn that “Your 
      Home—It’s All Built 
      on Chemistry.”
    
    
      In connection with National Chemistry Week, Oct. 22-28, specialty 
      chemical producer Rhodia Inc. (NYSE:RHA) is conducting a series of 
      Chemistry Connection® science education 
      programs that bring chemistry to life—especially 
      in the home—for students in Rhodia’s 
      North American manufacturing communities.
    
    
      Now in its 17th year, Chemistry Connection® 
      is an award-winning classroom presentation led by Rhodia employee 
      volunteers who demonstrate the principles of chemistry found in everyday 
      home products and applications. The program enlists student “scientists” 
      in performing desk-top experiments using safe, common ingredients found 
      in homes, classrooms, supermarkets and other everyday locations.
    
    
      “Many students—and 
      grownups, too—never think twice about the 
      performance and function of everyday items,” 
      explains John Cherkauskas, vice president of Rhodia’s 
      Research and Technology Center in Bristol, Pa. “We 
      take them for granted because they work so well to provide convenience 
      or other benefits essential to modern living.
    
    
      “There’s a reason 
      why our everyday home products, building products, personal care 
      products, automotive products, pharmaceuticals and countless others work 
      so well: the reason is chemistry,” he asserts.
    
    
      “Our world’s 
      growing reliance on the sciences underscores the importance of science 
      education and why we bring Chemistry Connection® 
      to middle schools,” Cherkauskas continues. “Showing 
      students how chemistry improves our homes and our lives is one step 
      toward developing the next generation of scientists.
    
    
      “Our quality of life depends on these 
      inquisitive and imaginative minds and we want to do all we can to spark 
      and encourage their scientific curiosity.”
    
    
      More than 250,000 students nationwide have participated in Chemistry 
      Connection® since the program was launched in 
      1989. Chemistry Connection® was cited for its 
      innovative approach to science education by the American Chemical 
      Society, sponsor of National Chemistry Week and its theme of “Your 
      Home—It’s All 
      Built on Chemistry."
    
    
      Rhodia earlier this year formally opened its new research and technology 
      laboratories in Bristol, where about 100 scientists and technicians 
      perform research on a wide variety of chemistry applications. Rhodia 
      periodically opens its laboratories for tours by neighbors and local 
      community leaders.
    
    
      Rhodia also participates in the Bristol site’s 
      community advisory council which includes several high school student 
      representatives.
    
    
      Rhodia is a global specialty chemicals company recognized for 
      its strong technology positions in Performance Materials, Functional 
      Chemicals and the Organics and Services clusters. Partnering with major 
      players in the refining, automotive, electronics, pharmaceuticals, 
      agrochemicals, consumer care, tires, and paints and coatings markets, 
      Rhodia offers tailor-made solutions combining original molecules and 
      technologies to respond to customers’ needs. 
      Rhodia subscribes to the principles of Sustainable Development, 
      communicating its commitments and performance openly with stakeholders. 
      Rhodia generated sales of 5 billion euros in 2005 and employs 20,000 
      people worldwide. Rhodia is listed on the Paris and New York stock 
      exchanges.
    
  
Most middle school students don't equate their home with a
chemistry laboratory. Yet, through Chemistry Connection(R)
demonstrations in schools around the country, they learn that "Your
Home--It's All Built on Chemistry."

   In connection with National Chemistry Week, Oct. 22-28, specialty
chemical producer Rhodia Inc. (NYSE:RHA) is conducting a series of
Chemistry Connection(R) science education programs that bring
chemistry to life--especially in the home--for students in Rhodia's
North American manufacturing communities.

   Now in its 17th year, Chemistry Connection(R) is an award-winning
classroom presentation led by Rhodia employee volunteers who
demonstrate the principles of chemistry found in everyday home
products and applications. The program enlists student "scientists" in
performing desk-top experiments using safe, common ingredients found
in homes, classrooms, supermarkets and other everyday locations.

   "Many students--and grownups, too--never think twice about the
performance and function of everyday items," explains John
Cherkauskas, vice president of Rhodia's Research and Technology Center
in Bristol, Pa. "We take them for granted because they work so well to
provide convenience or other benefits essential to modern living.

   "There's a reason why our everyday home products, building
products, personal care products, automotive products, pharmaceuticals
and countless others work so well: the reason is chemistry," he
asserts.

   "Our world's growing reliance on the sciences underscores the
importance of science education and why we bring Chemistry
Connection(R) to middle schools," Cherkauskas continues. "Showing
students how chemistry improves our homes and our lives is one step
toward developing the next generation of scientists.

   "Our quality of life depends on these inquisitive and imaginative
minds and we want to do all we can to spark and encourage their
scientific curiosity."

   More than 250,000 students nationwide have participated in
Chemistry Connection(R) since the program was launched in 1989.
Chemistry Connection(R) was cited for its innovative approach to
science education by the American Chemical Society, sponsor of
National Chemistry Week and its theme of "Your Home--It's All Built on
Chemistry."

   Rhodia earlier this year formally opened its new research and
technology laboratories in Bristol, where about 100 scientists and
technicians perform research on a wide variety of chemistry
applications. Rhodia periodically opens its laboratories for tours by
neighbors and local community leaders.

   Rhodia also participates in the Bristol site's community advisory
council which includes several high school student representatives.

   Rhodia is a global specialty chemicals company recognized for its
strong technology positions in Performance Materials, Functional
Chemicals and the Organics and Services clusters. Partnering with
major players in the refining, automotive, electronics,
pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, consumer care, tires, and paints and
coatings markets, Rhodia offers tailor-made solutions combining
original molecules and technologies to respond to customers' needs.
Rhodia subscribes to the principles of Sustainable Development,
communicating its commitments and performance openly with
stakeholders. Rhodia generated sales of 5 billion euros in 2005 and
employs 20,000 people worldwide. Rhodia is listed on the Paris and New
York stock exchanges.