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August 8, 2007 'Aluminum Gallery' teaches kids in China about aluminum and sustainability Beijing, China -- August 8, 2007 Wang Ming is a ten-year-old boy studying at Alcoa Hope Elementary School (a school sponsored by Alcoa China) in a remote village deep in the mountains 300 kilometres away from the nearest city of Qinghuangdao. It was the first time Ming came to Beijing and was the first time he held an aluminum can of Coca-Cola in his hand. “Beijing is beautiful and the aluminum can is equally beautiful -- it can be cut up to make a lantern to show my friends,” Ming said. Holding it in his hand for long time, Ming was reluctant to put down the can in a recycling bag. He shook his head again and again, even when he was shown the benefits aluminium recycling could bring to the environment. It is very common in China that few people know how aluminum is made and what benefits aluminum recycling can bring to a better environment and a more sustainable growth. Alcoa Foundation, working with the China Science and Technology Museum, has organized the “Aluminum Gallery” in Beijing, the capital city of China to help the community find right answers. The Aluminum Gallery opened to public in China Science and Technology Museum in Beijing, China from August 8 and will last for one month. Jinya Chen, President of Alcoa Asia Pacific, Dr. Ke Jun, Senior Academician of the China Academy of Science, Dr. Xu Yanhao, Curator of the Museum, Mr. Pan Jiazhu, Vice President of China Non-Ferrous Association, Madam Zhang Youyun, Vice President of China Association for Employment Promotion, Mr. Meng Jie, Director of Chalco Science and Technology Department, Mr. Brant Larson, Official of the U.S. Embassy to China, students from the Alcoa Hope Elementary School and many Alcoa volunteers attended the opening ceremony. Alcoa volunteers introduced the concepts of aluminum and sustainability to students and other visitors through plain words, showing vivid pictures and interesting examples, playing with the students to conduct waste management, and making aluminum foil handcrafts with visitors aluminum foil to demonstrate the extensive use of aluminum in modern life. “This exhibition is extremely timely and useful. I hope Alcoa will keep this show in this hall permanently. China needs sustainable growth and this show tells our kids how to save energy and the environment through innovation and using environmentally friendly material.” said Dr. Ke. Considering different ages of visitors, the gallery presents diversified interaction activities to suit their interests and learning needs. By cutting kitchen foil into shapes like animals, ships, buildings and planes, younger children had creative fun and learned what foil can do in everyday life. For older children, a chemical experiment and a simulation of an aluminium can recycling plant helped them understand aluminum’s properties and recycling processes. “Our children need such lively exhibition and activities. They build interest in science and technology much faster through such inter-personal activities. You might see Nobel Prize winners from this group as the kids build interest in science in such an early stage,” a teacher from the Alcoa Hope Elementary School commented. The Aluminum Gallery has undoubtedly provided an interesting and informative environment in which both students and adults can better understand aluminum and its possibilities. More importantly, the Gallery will help raise children’s interest in science, innovation and awareness of environmental protection and energy conservation. Dr. Xu approached Alcoa requesting that the Museum and Alcoa build a stronger and more regular relationship to help educate our community, especially children, in the benefits that aluminum products can bring to our life and the importance of recycling. The Alcoa Aluminum Gallery will continue its show in Beijing till September 8. After then, it is planned that the Gallery will move to Shanghai and Suzhou for more shows. |
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