The PPG Industries Foundation has donated $5,000 to The University of Akron to support development of the nation's first undergraduate program focused on corrosion engineering.
PHOTO CAPTION: During the 2009 Department of Defense Corrosion Conference in Washington, D.C., from left, Dr. Luis Proenza, president, and Sue Louscher, project director for corrosion and reliability engineering, both of The University of Akron, celebrated the university’s new undergraduate program in corrosion engineering with U.S. Rep. Betty Sutton, D-Ohio, who was the conference keynote speaker, and Tim Avampato, PPG market manager, government research and development contracts. The PPG Industries Foundation has donated $5,000 to support development of the new university program – the nation’s first focused on corrosion studies – for which Avampato and other PPG Industries researchers are serving as industry advisors.
"We are very pleased to receive support from PPG to help us establish this unique engineering program, with an emphasis on preparing students to effectively address the $276 billion annual cost of corrosion to the U.S. economy," said Dr. George K. Haritos, dean of the UA College of Engineering. "The funding will be used to support outreach efforts to build student interest in this newly approved curriculum."
The U.S. Department of Defense has provided most of the funding to UA for this new program of study. Dr. Haritos said the major will consist of an engineering core with concentrations on a strong corrosion science foundation, effective corrosion engineering principles and corrosion management components.
Scientists from PPG's coatings research facilities near Pittsburgh will act as adjunct professors for some courses in the new corrosion engineering program. Locally, the company operates a chemicals manufacturing facility in Barberton.
"PPG is strongly committed to supporting the communities where its employees work and live," said Chuck Kahle, chief technology officer and vice president, coatings research and development, for PPG Industries. "We are proud to support The University of Akron in its efforts to establish an academic curriculum that's focused on an area of importance to PPG and our customers. We are excited to play a part in guiding curriculum development, to have PPG researchers teach corrosion engineering courses, and to support the students and graduates of the program in their professional development."
Established in 1951, the PPG Industries Foundation demonstrates the values of PPG Industries by enhancing the quality of life in communities where the company has a presence. Interests of the foundation, in order of priority, are education, human services, culture and arts, and civic and community affairs. PPG also supports charitable causes by encouraging employee volunteerism and executives' involvement with nonprofit organizations.