Solar Solutions

The Dow Corning Solar Discovery Center has been honored with a gold award in the out-of-home category in the American Advertising Federation Great Lakes Bay Region’s 2010 ADDY® Awards competition. The ADDY Awards recognize creative excellence in all types of media. The Solar Discovery Center will advance to district- and possibly national-level ADDY competitions.

The advertising community isn’t the only group that admires the Solar Discovery Center. Educators from around mid-Michigan have lauded the Center for its innovative approach to teaching children (and adults) about solar energy and Dow Corning’s efforts to advance the industry to achieve grid parity.

In a note to Dow Corning Public Affairs/Community Relations, Zilwaukee International Studies School teacher Jon Dekker wrote, “Dow Corning made a tremendous impression on these youngsters. . . . Those types of memories are lasting for students and I encourage you to continue working to educate the region’s kids about the awesome opportunities that math, science, and education bring to people willing to work hard and focus on improving the quality of life of themselves and others.”

Located on the grounds of the Corporate Center, the Dow Corning Solar Discovery Center is designed to appeal to school-age children. It is arranged in a 40-foot diameter concrete circle, partially covered by bright orange awnings, evocative of the sun. As visitors walk around the circle, they encounter a variety of educational elements. Two manually interactive kiosks present information on a student’s level. One kiosk explains in simple terms how solar energy works, with graphics to support the narrative. The second kiosk illustrates Dow Corning’s place in the solar value chain. Individual tiles on the kiosk feature different steps in the value chain on one side. Visitors can flip the tiles to learn about the Dow Corning products produced or used at each step. A touch-screen video monitor next to this kiosk plays a Flash presentation about Dow Corning’s work in the solar industry. The nearby functional solar array provides additional visual support to the lessons, allowing visitors an up-close look at solar panels.

Embedded in the walkway around the display, plaques present facts about solar energy throughout history, including pertinent Dow Corning milestones. In the center of the circle, a sundial – the oldest known device for measuring time – sits atop a concrete pillar with an integrated shelf that can serve as a desktop for teachers or others visiting the site.

The Solar Discovery Center is just one way Dow Corning supports education. Recognizing that our future depends on having a society with well-educated, skilled and motivated young people, we’re reaching out to inspire students.

One hour of sunlight can generate enough energy to meet the world’s needs for a year. Imagine what one hour of interactive learning can generate in a class of 20 sixth grade students. If we can spark a desire to ask questions and look for answers, then we’re on the right path.

Grid parity - the point at which photovoltaic electricity is equal to or cheaper than other sources of electricity.

About Dow Corning

Dow Corning provides performance-enhancing solutions to serve the diverse needs of more than 25,000 customers worldwide. A global leader in silicones, silicon-based technology and innovation, Dow Corning offers more than 7,000 products and services via the company’s Dow Corning® and XIAMETER® brands. Dow Corning is a joint venture equally owned by The Dow Chemical Company and Corning, Incorporated. More than half of Dow Corning’s annual sales are outside the United States.

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