School-Business Chemistry in Bristol Township

From the BCCT.

Experimental education

By JOHN ANASTASI
Staff Writer

Scientists at Rhodia’s Bristol Township research and development center took a “chemistry is cool” message and some hands-on experiments to four elementary schools in Lower Bucks and Burlington counties last week.

Reaching out to young people is vital at a time when schools are churning out fewer American scientists and the country is “losing its intellectual property prowess” through expiring patents, said John Cherkauskas Jr., vice president of research and development at the Bristol Township facility.

“Of the scientists training in the United States, my feeling is that a third to half of them are from other countries,” Cherkauskas said, referring to postgraduate training. “The more interesting we make science to students, the better off it is.”

As part of National Chemistry Week, 20 scientists visited Snyder-Girotti Elementary School in Bristol, Lafayette Elementary School in Bristol Township, Fountain Woods Elementary School in the Burlington Township School District and St. Paul’s School in Burlington.

“We try to promote science on both sides of the river,” Cherkauskas said.

Headquartered in France, Rhodia has a presence in 25 countries. Its North American headquarters is in Middlesex County, N.J. Rhodia boasts a diverse portfolio of chemicals used in everything from automobiles and electronics to home care and health and beauty products.

Its market diversity has helped the company weather financial troubles in certain industries, while its far-reaching geographic footprint has helped insulate it from economic slowdowns in certain counties. But it also came with a drawback.

“We were more diverse, but that made it difficult for Wall Street to understand our strategy,” said Cherkauskas, who added that realization prompted the company to pull back and sharpen its focus.

The company sold off some of its business and, in 2005, moved its research and development activity to a smaller property that had previously belonged to Rohm and Haas in Bristol Township.

There Rhodia and about 140 of its permanent and temporary research and development employees worked on several key products segments.

The company produces chemicals used in personal care products like body washes. It also makes a pesticide additive that helps the liquid coat a surface rather than bounce off, a chemical that makes paint easier to apply and a product used in automobile catalytic converters.

“Chemistry is important in everything we do,” Cherkauskas said of society. “We need to instill awareness of the importance of chemistry and show chemistry in a positive light. That can stimulate young people to a career.”

Kati Bryson, sixth-grade teacher at Lafayette Elementary School, said that after Rhodia’s scientists appeared at the Bristol Township school during last year’s National Chemistry Week she noticed that the students seemed more excited about the possibility of a career in science after taking part in some experiments.

“I think their eyes were opened,” said Bryson. “I think it’s a wonderful program. … It lets the kids meet scientists and know they are real people. It gives them a good impression of scientists.”