by Dwayne Sattler, CEO Why developing the next generation of STEM talent needs to start years before the job posting ARLINGTON, VA – A recent New York Times opinion piece highlighted a challenge that employers across the country know well: finding and retaining the skilled workers needed to keep businesses growing and communities economically strong. […]
LONDON, UK – The You Be The Solution Challenge concluded with outstanding success on 21 June 2026, drawing together some of the most inventive young scientific minds from across the United Kingdom. Held in London, the competition invited student teams to form start-up companies and develop sustainable, science-backed innovations to improve their local communities – […]
ARLINGTON, VA – CEF is proud to announce that PlaqueTracker from S3 in Illinois has been named the 2026 National Challenge Champion, earning a $16,000 scholarship sponsored by Olin. CapeClear from Chem4All in Massachusetts and MYCEL from Jefferson Middle School in Michigan placed second and third, winning $12,000 and $8,000, respectively. The winners were revealed […]
ARLINGTON, VA – CEF is proud to announce the five National Finalist teams advancing to the National Challenge, the final stage of the 2026 You Be The Solution Challenge™, where the top five State Winners from across the country present innovative solutions to real-world problems through science, collaboration, and creativity. Selected from a competitive pool of more […]
ARLINGTON, VA — CEF is proud to recognize the 2026 State Winners of the You Be The Solution Challenge, a national STEM competition that empowers students in grades 5–8 to solve real-world problems through science, collaboration, and creativity. The 2025–2026 Challenge cycle kicked off in October, engaging more than 13,000 students across the country. Throughout the year, […]
by Dwayne Sattler, CEO As the Chemical Educational Foundation (CEF) continues advancing our mission of Creating Exciting Futures in STEM, we are proud to share the launch of the Industry Advisory Council (IAC). This distinguished group of executives and thought leaders will help guide how CEF prepares students for tomorrow’s STEM workforce—supporting pathways from career […]
by Dwayne Sattler, CEO As the Chemical Educational Foundation (CEF) reflects on more than 35-years of impact, we celebrate the powerful legacy we have built together, engaging more than 5.2 million students through hands-on science learning. This milestone also marks the launch of an exciting new chapter, with strategic updates ensuring that CEF’s positioning, partnerships, […]
ARLINGTON, VA – CEF is proud to announce that the Science Scholars Sandbox Team from Illinois has won first place in this year’s National Challenge, earning a $16,000 scholarship sponsored by Univar Solutions. They triumphed over more than 14,000 students across North America. The Hydrovolt Team from Massachusetts and the Biocharge Team from Virginia placed […]
ARLINGTON, VA – Get ready to experience the next generation of innovators in action. This year’s CEF Challenge Program, a national STEM competition for students in grades 5-8, has inspired more than 14,000 students to explore STEM and sustainability like never before. The theme—You Be the Solution: Develop a sustainable solution to a local natural […]
ARLINGTON, Va. – The Chemical Educational Foundation (CEF) is pleased to announce Robert L. Moser, Jr. of Brenntag North America as the 2024 recipient of the William A. Fidler Award at the 2024 Alliance for Chemical Distribution Annual Meeting. After nearly a decade of service, including the last two transformative years as board president, Moser […]
