October 15, 2018
Digital and environmental science in ACTION
Atwell Primary School students recently took part in a School Science Challenge involving the use of digital microscopy and environmental engineering skills with the support of Alcoa’s employee volunteering program ACTION.
ACTION, which stands for Alcoans Coming Together in Our Neighbourhoods, is an Alcoa Foundation program developed to recognise the collecitve efforts of Alcoa employees volunteering in communitities where they live and work.
A $3000 grant is provided for teams spending a minimum of 32 hours on a community service project for a local non-profit organisaition. Members of Alcoa’s Refining Centre of Excellence, along with other Alcoa employees who have students at the school, led science workshops for year five and year six Atwell Primary students in support of the school’s Science Week celebrations. The grant will be used to secure miscroscopes and environmental engineering equipment and supplies, similar to those used during the workshops. This equipment will allow the school to further encourage the student’s interests in science.
Alcoa’s Global Refining Residue Technical Manager David Cooling said ACTION grants were an important part of the company’s commitment to building stronger communities.
"It was great to have the support and involvement from the teachers and school and extremely rewarding to see the students’ curiosity sparked and minds at work," David said.
Alcoa’s ACTION program is this year supporting approximately 50 employee volunteering activities in communities close to the company’s Western Australian operations. Most will occur in the Kwinana, Peel and South West areas where Alcoa’s bauxite mining and alumina refineries are located.
Nearly 400 Alcoa employees will be involved, volunteering for at least 1500 hours. In recognition of their volunteering efforts, Alcoa will donate some $150,000 to the associated community organisations.
The volunteering activities range from busy bees at schools, sporting clubs and local charities to assisting with community events and fundraising for non-profit services.
Alcoa has a proud history in Western Australia, employing more than 3750 people and contributing hundreds of millions of dollars each year to the State’s economy. The company invested more than $4 million in community programs last year.
ENDS
Media contacts:
- Jane McGuire, Senior Communications Advisor, 0410 694 676, jane.mcguire@alcoa.com
- Scott Hansen, Community Relation Manager, 0404 800 403, scott.hansen@alcoa.com