Building on last year's success, Dow Corning Corporation, a global leader in silicones and silicon-based technology and innovation, and China Welfare Institute (CWI) Children's Palace have expanded "Fascinating Silicone in Life" - 2009 Dow Corning Science Day - from Shanghai to Songjiang district and Zhangjiagang of Jiangsu province this year, thus bringing more interesting experiments to the students and engaging them to learn how silicones improve lives as well as the importance of environmental protection and innovation.
2009 Dow Corning Science Day is a series of events held at the Songjiang Youth and Children Center on November 21 and 22, at the CWI Children's Palace on December 2 and 3, and at the Dow Corning Zhangjiagang Site on December 12 and 13 respectively. In total, about 1,000 children have benefited from this year's program. This is the first time that Dow Corning is bringing the event to Songjiang - its first manufacturing center in China, and Zhangjiagang - China's largest integrated silicone manufacturing site that the company is building and expects to reach its full operational capacity by the end of 2010. The Shanghai Science Day event is designed to be part of the citywide programs to mark the countdown to the 2010 Shanghai World Expo, while the Zhangjiagang event is an important component of the 9th Zhangjiagang Primary and Middle School Science Festival/ the 5th Youth Science Innovation Contest.
"As a good corporate citizen in China, we believe that each corporation has a responsibility towards the community in which it operates and is dedicated to building even stronger ties with the local communities," said Tom Cook, Dow Corning's Vice President & General Manager, China. "Our role is to help educate, motivate and guide young people in our society. By providing various learning opportunities to the students, we are helping the local community invest in its future. "
Science Day includes five hands-on silicone-related experiments: "Mini Solar Car," "Anti-Graffiti Coating," "Antifoam for Coating," "Silicone Rubber" and "Moisture Cream Making." Two of these experiments are newly developed this year. In the "Anti-Graffiti Coating" experiment, students dip a piece of glass in silicone liquor for 30 seconds. After drying the glass in room temperature, the glass becomes anti-oil and waterproof. The anti-graffiti coating can be used to protect city's landmark buildings from graffiti. In "Antifoam for Coating," students can dip one drop of antifoam into a bottle of full foam and find the foam disappear immediately. Both experiments show students not only the magic of silicone and silicon-based technology and products in daily life, but also convey the messages of importance of environmental protection.
The "Mini Solar Car" experiment has attracted special attention from the students and teachers. The solar car consists of recycled material for the body and wheels, and a piece of solar panel attached on top. After assembling the solar car, students can also test the result on a race track onsite. The energy generated by solar panel powers the car and is a great way of showing how the sunlight can generate renewable energy, thus improving students' awareness on recycling wastes and environmental protection.
"We are pleased to work with Dow Corning to help young people in China deepen their interests on science, inspire their imagination, discover the secrets of science world, improve their knowledge and skills as well as promote teamwork," said Mr. Xia Yongqiang, Party Secretary of CWICP.
With more than 35 years of success in China, Dow Corning is fully committed to the market and already an integral part of the local economy. In China, Dow Corning has attached great importance to promote the science education development. By providing various learning opportunities to the students, the company is helping the local communities invest in its future. At Dow Corning's Songjiang site in Shanghai and Zhangjiagang site, "Open Days" have been arranged to students from local schools and universities and also family members of employees with vivid lessons and interesting experiments for many years. On Earth Day (April 22), Zhangjiagang site provided safe and simple experimental equipment for the employee's children and the children from its community, to make them more conscious of environmental protection.