Making a difference

Our plant in Tarragona, Spain, participated in an exhibition on the role of chemistry in our everyday lives and our future as part of the International Year of Chemistry. Ashland Industries Hispania S.A. is a member of the Chemical Business Association of Tarragona.

Experiments, conferences and presentations were featured on one side of "Chemistry, Our Life, Our Future," and the other side housed an area for active participation, showcasing the chemical industry's applications with nearly 23 interactive activities.

Ashland joined other companies and institutions to make the event possible through the Council of Tarragona, which provided the public space for the expo along the Rambla Nova, Tarragona's main avenue. Additional participants included the University Rovira I Virgili and the Institute of Chemical Research of Catalonia. The event, in June 2011, drew more than 10,000 visitors during a nine-day run and was popular with both the public and those in the chemical industry.

"We visited the exhibition with some plant employees and my child and his friends visited during the weekend," said Rosa Salamero, our plant manager. "They really enjoyed learning how chemistry helps us have a better life."