The PPG Industries Foundation sponsored interactive assemblies about color, chemistry and climate change presented recently by Carnegie Science Center of Pittsburgh at 12 schools in Metro Detroit. Through an employee program of the foundation, employees at the PPG Industries Automotive Technology Center in Troy requested grants to bring the science shows to area schools where they have an interest.

Timothy Knavish, PPG vice president, automotive OEM coatings, Americas, welcomed students at Thirkell Elementary to join in “The Great Color Caper” and help find the culprit who stole colors from the city of Spectropolis, while learning about the science behind light and color. Students in other schools explored how chemistry affects industry, technology and the environment with “Ion Jones and the Lost Castle of Chemistry,” and some joined a quest to save the environment while learning about the science of climate change and renewable energy technology with “Captain Green’s Time Machine.”

“PPG is strongly committed to helping enhance the quality of life in communities such as Metro Detroit where it has a presence, especially through educational initiatives such as these Carnegie Science Center assemblies,” Knavish said. “We are excited to have brought these programs to Thirkell and other schools in the Detroit area, and we hope they helped students to see how fun and exciting science and technology can be.”

Carnegie Science Center developed these three interactive Science on the Road educational programs, and a fourth called “Fractured Physics,” with more than $580,000 in combined donations from the PPG Industries Foundation and PPG Industries. Additionally, PPG employees collaborated with the science center’s education specialists to develop the multimedia shows and accompanying materials.