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, developed 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, interactive 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 visited a family day event at the Chrysler Sterling Heights Assembly Plant, where PPG has on-site coatings operations and employees.