Coatings World - December 2010

PPG hosts, sponsors Pittsburgh Science
Show at Sterling Heights School

PPG’s automotive coatings business recently hosted and sponsored two assembly presentations of “Captain Green’s Time Machine” by Carnegie Science Center of Pittsburgh
at Hatherly Elementary School in Sterling Heights. Students were
welcomed by PPG senior vice president of Automotive Coatings
Cynthia Niekamp, who invited them to join “Captain Green” on a
quest to save the environment while learning about the science of
climate change and renewable energy technology through hands-
on demonstrations.
“PPG is strongly committed to helping enhance the quality
of life in communities such as Greater Detroit where it has a
presence, especially through educational initiatives such as
this Carnegie Science Center assembly,” said Niekamp, who
is based at PPG’s automotive technology center in Troy,
Michigan. “We are very pleased to bring this program, devel-
oped with PPG funding and collaboration, to Hatherly School.
As an engineer myself, I hope it will excite the students about
science and technology and perhaps inspire some of them to
consider careers in related disciplines.”
Joseph Konal, principal of Hatherly Elementary School,
said, “We thank PPG for bringing this stimulating, interac-
tive assembly about conservation, ecology, climate change
and regional science to entertain and educate our students.”
“Captain Green’s Time Machine” is one of four interactive
“Science on the Road” educational programs that Carnegie
Science Center developed with funding and participation
from PPG. A $1,000 employee program grant from the PPG
Industries Foundation funded the show’s visit to Hatherly
Elementary. The program’s customized Dodge van also vis-
ited a family day event at the Chrysler Sterling Heights
Assembly Plant, where PPG has on-site coatings operations
and employees. CW

Students at Hatherly Elementary School in Sterling Heights, Michigan, along with PPG Industries
senior vice president, Automotive Coatings, Cynthia Niekamp (in second chair from left by wall)
and vice president, automotive coatings, Americas, Timothy M. Knavish (in chair beside
Niekamp), enjoy a presentation of the multimedia, interactive “Captain Green’s Time Machine”
assembly by Michelle Brooks of Carnegie Science Center in Pittsburgh. The show is one of four
dynamic “Science on the Road” educational programs that Carnegie Science Center developed
with funding and participation from PPG, and a $1,000 employee program grant from the PPG
Industries Foundation funded the show’s visit to Hatherly Elementary.