The waning interest in science among children these days is a matter of deep concern. Even at school, children are said to have fewer opportunities to conduct chemistry experiments and enjoy other experiences. We at JSR want children to feel for themselves the importance, the potential, and even the enjoyment of manufacturing, not through thinking but through experiencing such emotions as surprise and delight. At the same time, we also want children to learn how necessary and important JSR's materials are in making so many things that exist in the world.

Utterances of excitement were heard as each lab group stood before the mysterious white substance that was distributed to them. “What is it?” “Can I touch it?” Such is a typical moment in the “Fun Lab Class” taught by JSR employees at elementary schools in Yokkaichi, Mie Prefecture.
“Watch closely now,” Emi Hata, of the General Affairs Team at JSR's Yokkaichi Plant, said as she led that day's science class. After giving the children time to react—“It's so stretchy!”, “It smells funny.”—Emi went on to explain that the odd substance is “synthetic rubber” manufactured by JSR.
And after much anticipation, the groups finally begin their experiments at making synthetic rubber. Using a dropper, the children sucked white liquid out of a jar and squirted it into another containing a water-like liquid. The children gasped in surprise as they watched a cloudy white glob form and float to the surface. As soon as they strained the glob with a tea strainer they were finished. Their experiment had produced synthetic rubber. “There's one more thing you made today besides rubber. What is it?” asked Yoshifumi Kato of the Environment & Safety Department, taking Emi's place as lecturer. “The answer is: ‘liquid waste.' JSR's rubber factory produces a large amount of liquid waste every day, but we filter this liquid so it doesn't pollute our rivers and oceans.” The children listened attentively to this critical detail.

While the general idea of the project was set, what subject to teach was not. How do you keep a child's interest through a 45-minute class while also connecting the subject with the textbook? “What about an experiment like this?” “That seems a little dangerous...” A prolonged brainstorming session led by Ito and Hata took place between JSR, local teachers and the board of education. After nearly a year, the subject was decided: synthetic rubber, a material readily seen and used in children's lives. We were finally ready to start.
It was to be a novel approach to teaching, made possible through partnerships between business, schools, and local government.  “Meeting and hearing from a person who works at a company is a taste of the real thing,” said Ito, referring to the program's value. “What is a company and what goes on at a company? JSR can communicate something that we can't, no matter how hard we try. That's the power of ‘the real thing.'”
Hata said, “We feel that it's a sustainable social contribution that also perfectly matches our capabilities. If it helps the children when choosing their future career, we would be happy.” Since then, the program has spread to other JSR sites as well, including a science class held by Kashima Plant at junior high schools in Ibaraki Prefecture. JSR's role in creating the leaders of tomorrow is ever expanding.