Eastman Hosts 36th Annual Celebration of Chemistry

More than 700 fourth grade students explored interactive chemistry exhibits during the annual regional event.

Updated on Oct. 27, 2026 in Chemistry

A collection of clear glass laboratory beakers and test tubes filled with bright blue and pink liquid sit on a sterile metal table.
Eastman hosted its 36th annual Celebration of Chemistry in Kingsport, Tennessee, providing over 700 fourth grade students with hands-on exposure to scientific principles. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Eastman recently hosted its 36th annual Celebration of Chemistry in Kingsport, Tennessee. The event welcomed over 700 fourth grade students from across Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia to engage with scientific concepts.

Why it matters

The event provides local students with early exposure to scientific principles through hands-on learning. It serves to bridge classroom curriculum with real-world applications in professional chemistry.

The event featured hands-on chemistry demonstrations and interactive exhibits for the attendees. Over 700 fourth grade students participated in the program, marking the 36th iteration of this annual initiative.

The players

Eastman

This global specialty materials company operates a major manufacturing facility in Kingsport and actively participates in local educational outreach.

The details

Students had the opportunity to interact directly with scientists and volunteers through various chemistry experiments. The hands-on sessions were designed specifically for the grade level as part of the broader National Chemistry Week observation.

Timeline

  1. October 2026: Eastman hosted the 36th annual Celebration of Chemistry.

The Big Picture

The event operates as a cornerstone of the regional engagement strategy during National Chemistry Week. It demonstrates how corporate-led initiatives align with national scientific literacy programs to influence STEM education trajectories.

Local families and educators gain access to specialized STEM learning experiences that are typically unavailable in standard classroom settings. This early exposure helps students visualize potential career paths in chemical engineering and scientific research.

The takeaway

Early hands-on experiences can significantly increase student interest in complex scientific fields. Parents are encouraged to seek out similar regional STEM workshops to foster continued engagement with science outside of school hours.

Further reading

Learn more about local scientific education initiatives at Chemistry.

Source note: This article includes information reported by WJHL.

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