MILAN, Italy — PPG recently announced the opening of an interactive chemistry laboratory at the National Museum of Science and Technology Leonardo da Vinci in Milan, Italy. PPG helped fund the design and renovation of the laboratory as well as its equipment and content development as part of a $290,000 (€250,000) grant to support science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education in Italy.

Under the guidance of expert researchers, the laboratory provides primary, secondary and high school students and their families and teachers with opportunities for informal learning through dedicated educational activities focused on chemistry. It is one of 14 specially designed interactive spaces in the museum, which is recognized throughout Europe for its leadership role in STEM education. 

"We truly value the support of PPG in our work to create an innovative laboratory design and training resources that help people, particularly the younger generations, develop a positive relationship with the sciences,” said Fiorenzo Galli, General Director of the museum. “With the laboratory dedicated to chemistry, it is possible to build a new relationship with this scientific field, favoring an intuitive, relational and creative vision of science in connection with the surrounding world. It is a fundamental service for schools, universities and business.”

PPG spent more than 680 hours carrying out a COLORFUL COMMUNITIES^® project to beautify the laboratory using 165 liters of donated SIGMA™ coatings by PPG. The museum’s staff spent an additional 1,515 hours to develop the educational content for the laboratory.

The Colorful Communities program provides PPG volunteers and products along with financial contributions to bring color and vitality to communities where the company operates around the world, such as in Milan and Quattordio, Italy, where PPG has production facilities for its refinish coatings and automotive OEM businesses.

PPG started its collaboration with the museum in 2016. Projects have included “Speed Date,” where students could ask questions and receive advice from PPG chemistry experts; “Night at the Museum,” which provided young children with the opportunity to play the role of scientific investigators as they explored the museum’s exhibits with their parents; and “Introduction to Science,” where nearly 500 secondary school students and their teachers participated in special lessons at the museum’s chemistry and physics lab.

Learn more at www.ppg.com.