About FOSSI

The chemical industry and our affiliates are committed to enhancing equity, diversity and inclusion in our facilities, our boardrooms and the communities in which we operate. FOSSI brings together the industry’s collective might to make a significant impact in the lives of our future leaders, who will one day help solve the world’s most pressing challenges. 

• Since 2006, there’s been a continued decline in the number of African Americans pursuing degrees in Engineering, as reported by American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE).
• Of the 40 most advanced countries in the world, the United States is 38th when it comes to graduating science majors, according to a 2015 report of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).
• Economists project that over the next decade, China, South Korea, and India will produce over 50 percent of the world’s engineers and scientists, with the U.S. contributing well below 10 percent.
• The OECD ranks American students 17th in science achievement and 25th in math ability out of 65 countries.

FOSSI's initial focus is on increasing the number of minorities in the STEM workforce by providing scholarships to students pursuing preferred STEM degrees at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and connecting these students to leadership development, mentoring, and internship opportunities at participating companies.

To date, FOSSI has raised ~ $30 million to support close to 600 scholars, over halfway to the program’s ambitious goal of supporting 1000 scholars through 2025. These scholars represent:

• A solution that delivers real impact for companies by significantly increasing the number of students underrepresented in the STEM talent pool.
• A demonstration of meaningful corporate social responsibility and leadership by the chemical industry.

The need for this type of program is clear and immediate.

• According to 2012 statistics from the United States Department of Labor, Black and Latinx college students make up less than 20% of those studying in science- or math-based disciplines and only 5% of the STEM-related workforce.¹
• HBCUs are well positioned to help fill the gap, as they are responsible for 40% of the bachelor’s degrees awarded to Black students in such STEM fields as physics, chemistry, environmental science and mathematics.²
• It is our belief that this program will support students in becoming the next generation of scientists, researchers, engineers, mathematicians and doctors, innovating and finding solutions to some of the future’s most pressing problems.
• FOSSI recognizes and rewards demonstrated achievement, talent, work ethic and most importantly, future potential of students that have been historically overlooked and underrepresented in our industry.

1 https://www.pewsocialtrends.org/2018/01/09/diversity-in-the-stem-workforce-varies-widely-across-jobs/

2 https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1000229.pdf

FOSSI is dedicated to supporting scholars who would otherwise not have access to quality STEM education due to financial barriers. Eligible applicants must:

• Complete or have completed high school with a minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale (unweighted) and be entering their freshman year of college
• Pursue studies in pertinent chemical and engineering industry STEM field, with preferred majors including, but not limited to:
  •  Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Biology, Physics, Chemistry, Math, Computer Science, Biochemistry, Material Science, Environmental Sciences, IT, and Sustainability.
• Attend a Historically Black College or University (HBCU) for the entirety of their college education
• Have interest in pursuing a career in chemical manufacturing, engineering, environmental health and sustainability or other related chemical-industry fields
• Demonstrate financial need
• Be a citizen or legal permanent resident of the United States