IYC to bring chemistry to life

Lanxess is promoting greater understanding of the contributions of chemistry science in shaping our lives and future, in conjunction with the world’s celebration of the International Year of Chemistry (IYC) 2011.

The IYC is an initiative of the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) and the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

The opening ceremony to launch the year-long celebration took place on 27 January at the UNESCO headquarters in Paris. Incidentally, the year 2011 commemorates the 100th anniversary of Marie Sklodowska-Curie's receipt of the 1911 Nobel Prize in Chemistry as well as the 100th anniversary of the founding of the IUPAC.

Lanxess is planning a series of activities around the world to inspire greater interests in chemistry studies among students and create greater awareness of the impact of chemistry in our daily lives among the general public. Singapore will be a key location for the company’s celebration of the IYC. Here, Lanxess has set up its global headquarters for the butyl rubber business unit and is building a butyl rubber plant on Jurong Island. The new plant, which will require an investment of US$575 million, is claimed to be the largest of its kind in Asia.

Kaye Lim, Lanxess’s Vice President of Corporate Communications for the Asia-Pacific region, says, “Many people, including students, are not conscious that chemistry is at work in many aspects of our daily life. Under the “Lanxess Brings Chemistry to Life” program in Singapore, we will organise talks and hands-on activities for students and the general public to experience how chemistry translates into improvements for both humans and the environment.”

Lim adds, “Creating awareness is the first step; ultimately we hope more people will pursue their career in the chemical sector, which is playing a pivotal role in defining and shaping current social and global megatrends.”

Lanxess has identified four core megatrends that will strongly influence the company’s activities in years to come: increased mobility, rapid urbanisation, more demand for clean water and more demand for food.

The increasing demand for mobility, primarily in China, India and other large developing countries, is one of the present megatrends. India, China, and Brazil - with their rapidly growing production industries and ever-larger vehicle fleets - are becoming world-class automotive powers. Yet, ensuring that this trend is as climate friendly as possible is a major challenge.