CSR Press Release

MIDLAND, Mich., Apr. 05 /CSRwire/ - Today, The Dow Chemical Company announces the third annual Dow Sustainability Innovation Student Challenge program. The initiative, developed in conjunction with Dow's 2015 Sustainability Goals, rewards students for innovative research and thinking that seeks to address some of the greatest challenges facing the world, such as global hunger, access to clean water and developing renewable energy sources. This year's program takes place during the International Year of Chemistry (IYC), providing an opportunity for Dow to promote the IYC objective of advancing scientific research and education through industry and academic collaboration.

"Dow established the Sustainability Innovation Student Challenge Award to encourage and promote forward thinking in social and environmental responsibility, while acknowledging the energy, commitment and enthusiasm of the students and their university professors who are focused on sustainable innovation," said Neil Hawkins, Dow's Vice President of Sustainability and Environment, Health & Safety. "This program helps foster creativity and inspires a spirit of collaboration between industry and universities to support the development of tomorrow's scientists and leaders, while helping to address important world challenges."

The Dow Sustainability Innovation Student Challenge is currently conducted at seven key strategic universities from around the globe. These leading and innovative academic institutions were selected based on their depth and breadth of excellence in sustainability, chemistry, engineering, business and natural resource management. The selected universities not only include U.S. institutions such as the University of Michigan, University of California, Berkeley, Tufts University and Northwestern University, but also global institutions such as Cambridge University (UK), Peking University (China) and University of Sao Paulo (Brazil).

Each university selects award winners based on:

• Innovative thinking and excellence in research;


• Potential for solving significant problems;


• Interdisciplinary nature of research;


• Alignment to the spirit of Dow's 2015 Sustainability Goals.

During 2011, students at participating institutions will work on thesis-like projects on a sustainability-related issue of their choosing, and winning students at each university will receive an award grant in recognition their research at an international awards ceremony hosted by Dow later this year.
For more information on The Dow Sustainability Innovation Student Challenge, please visit http://www.dow.com/studentchallenge.

About Dow

Dow combines the power of science and technology with the "Human Element" to passionately innovate what is essential to human progress. The Company connects chemistry and innovation with the principles of sustainability to help address many of the world's most challenging problems such as the need for clean water, renewable energy generation and conservation, and increasing agricultural productivity. Dow's diversified industry-leading portfolio of specialty chemical, advanced materials, agrosciences and plastics businesses delivers a broad range of technology-based products and solutions to customers in approximately 160 countries and in high growth sectors such as electronics, water, energy, coatings and agriculture. In 2010, Dow had annual sales of $53.7 billion and employed approximately 50,000 people worldwide. The Company's more than 5,000 products are manufactured at 188 sites in 35 countries across the globe. References to "Dow" or the "Company" mean The Dow Chemical Company and its consolidated subsidiaries unless otherwise expressly noted. More information about Dow can be found at www.dow.com.

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