Since 1996, the Arkema (formerly Atofina Chemicals, Inc.) Science Teacher Program has benefited hundreds of teachers and thousands of students across the U.S. Funded by the Arkema Foundation, the Program is run in 13 communities in which Arkema has manufacturing operations. The majority of students who benefit from the Program come from socioeconomically disadvantaged homes.

Arkema's Science Teacher Program is an intensive week-long session for elementary and secondary school teachers. Armed with innovative science experiment kits and the guidance of chemical engineers and scientists, teachers learn new and fascinating ways to illustrate scientific concepts. Scientific topics explored include life, earth and physical science and technology.

Teachers work side-by-side with Arkema research scientists in a variety of hands-on experiments. All kits used in the Program meet National Science Education Standards. The kits provide each teacher with eight weeks of science curriculum. Participating teachers also receive a donation to purchase additional science experiment supplies for their classrooms and the mentoring guidance of Arkema research scientists throughout the school year.

Teachers also have the opportunity to tour the Arkema Research Center or local manufacturing facilities to learn more about the ever changing, challenging field of chemicals and polymers research and manufacturing.

The excellence of this Program has not gone unnoticed. In 1999, the Arkema Science Teacher Program was selected as a winning program by the Pre-College Education Committee of the Industrial Research Institute, Washington, D.C.