Being a responsible corporate citizen and inspiring people to make a difference have long been a part of the Astellas corporate philosophy. Building on that foundation, Astellas recently formed a partnership with the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) that will help the company change tomorrow in the field of science education.

As the world's largest organization of its kind, the association is committed to improving science education and increasing student learning by engaging all teachers of science.

"The NSTA's efforts align perfectly with Astellas' commitment to science and the company's belief in the value that science brings to people's lives," explained Maribeth Landwehr, Astellas US LLC director of Corporate Communications. The partnership is part of the company's corporate social responsibility efforts, an integral part of advancing the Astellas brand.

The association's impact on a national scale is unmatched in the science education community. NSTA publishes several award-winning journals and publications, hosts the largest and most comprehensive line up of science education conferences in the country, offers a wide range of high-quality professional development opportunities for teachers and serves as an advocate for science educators by keeping its 60,000 members and the general public informed about national issues and trends in science education.

Astellas' partnership with the organization will help elevate the importance of science in schools in three ways: by enhancing the confidence of science teachers with resources and support, ensuring teaching excellence and generating a measurable effect on children.

Through this partnership, Astellas will support 15 Chicago-area science teachers to participate in the NSTA New Science Teacher Academy, a national, year-long program that connects new science teachers to a range of tools and resources, while providing the essential support needed to build a strong foundation for science in their classrooms.

"Scientific innovation is central to who we are as a company," Landwehr noted. "That's why Astellas is so proud to work with NSTA to promote science education and help change tomorrow for the next generation of scientists."