Will a new academic program in industrial color coatings technology benefit the beauty industry?

21-Aug-2017 - Last updated on 22-Aug-2017 at 15:52 GMT

The non-profit arm of paintings and coating company PPG has donated funds that will allow North Dakota State University to create a graduate level program in color technology. And color scientists that graduate from the program will likely find work in fields that include cosmetics.

“There is currently a need for an academic program in the US offering training in color technology,” Dean C. Webster, department chair for coatings and polymeric materials at North Dakota State University, says in a media release about the donation.

This is an instance where an employer sees a knowledge gap between university graduates and jobs that need filling in order to meet market demands. “There is a great demand from employers like PPG to fill color-science roles in the paints and coatings, cosmetics, plastics, and agriculture industries, to name just a few,” adds Webster.

“We are very grateful for PPG’s support in helping us establish the need across many industries for degreed color scientists, and for the grants the PPG Foundation provided to support our new program and help satisfy this need.”

Financing

The coatings and special materials company was involved with NDSU before its foundation gave $40,000 to the school to help establish a Master of Science program in color technology. “PPG scientists have actively served on the NDSU Coatings and Polymeric Materials Industrial Advisory Board over the years, joining other coatings industry representatives to help guide the department’s curriculum,” according to the media release.

“This new program will complement the university's long-standing coatings and polymeric materials program, which is one of few programs in the world that provides academic research and education focused on polymer organic coatings.” And, PPG scientists helped advise on the curriculum and learning objectives for the new program.

Even though the two organizations are geographically far apart (PPG is headquartered in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania), their interests are adjacent. “PPG values North Dakota State University’s coatings and polymeric materials department because it helps prepare students for careers that relate directly to PPG’s business,” says Bill Eibon, PPG director of technology acquisition for automotive coatings, and an NDSU advisory board member. “We’re excited to help NDSU launch its color technology program and look forward to seeing how future graduates will advance the practice of industrial color science.”