Chemours Discovery Hub Hosts High School Students for STEM Event

Jul 12, 2024 9:00 AM ET
Campaign: Community Impact
Students and adults posed next to a large molecule statue next to a large glass-sided building.

At Chemours, we believe that by exposing future generations to the wonders of chemistry, we can change even more lives for the better. To achieve this mission, we continue to invest and engage in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education programs to support future innovators.

Just recently, a group of Chemistry, Biology and Physics students from Middletown, William Penn and St. Elizabeth’s High Schools in Delaware recently visited the Chemours Discovery Hub (CDH)—our state-of-the-art, sustainably designed research and development facility located on the University of Delaware’s Science, Technology, and Advanced Research (STAR) Campus.

The visit was a part of the University of Delaware’s Foundations for Outreach & Recruitment of Great Engineers and Scientists (FORGES) program, which introduces rising high school juniors and seniors to a variety of summer research activities that are happening at the University of Delaware and with local industry partners, including Chemours.

While at CDH the students had the opportunity to tour the process development area, immersion cooling, Opteon™ foam blowing, and hydrogen fuel cell testing labs. After the tours, students had lunch with Chemours employees and apprentices where they discussed education, job experiences and career paths. The day of STEM programming culminated in an interactive hands-on demonstration that allowed students to analyze and identify “mystery” polymers, utilizing several CDH analytical labs and techniques.

“Our goal is to inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers by showcasing the innovation that is happening here at Chemours,” said Liz Diaz, Sr. Staff Chemist and CDH Community Engagement Team lead. “We love that we can open the doors to CDH and give local students the opportunity to see the many different and exciting STEM career paths available to them in their own community.”

Chemours and the team at CDH is proud to be involved with the FORGES program, which strives to significantly broaden the participation of women and underrepresented groups in materials science through recruitment efforts and outreach opportunities.