With the goal of highlighting the importance of Chemistry and Chemistry education, UNESCO and the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) established 2011 as the International Year of Chemistry with the theme "Chemistry – our life, our future". This year’s celebrations is in honour of the Polish scientist and teacher Marie Curie, twice winner of the Nobel Prize (1903 and 1911) by studies in the field of radioactivity and for discovering two chemical elements: radium and polonium. In Brazil, UNESCO and its partners have embraced the theme of the International Year of Chemistry to be celebrated together with the World Science Day for Peace and Development. Among other activities, a contest of written works and drawings was held to encourage high school students to think about on the importance of Chemistry in our everyday life.