PPG renews partnership with STEM Talent Girl program in Spain

Empowering young women to excel in STEM careers

VALENCIA, Spain, Nov. 18, 2024 - PPG (NYSE: PPG) today announced that it is renewing its partnership with the STEM Talent Girl program, an educational initiative by the ASTI Foundation that empowers young women in Spain to explore careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). PPG has been supporting the program for over five years.

The STEM Talent Girl program is expanding its reach to more cities, aiming to engage more than 1,000 students annually. It addresses the underrepresentation of women in STEM fields by fostering early interest and connecting participants with accomplished female mentors. The program fosters both academic and personal development and bridges the gap from secondary school to university and the workforce via a three-stage framework:

• Science for Her: Engages secondary school girls with foundational STEM concepts and career insights.
• Mentor Women: Connects participants with female STEM professionals who guide and inspire them.
• Real Work: Provides practical exposure and problem-solving opportunities during the transition to university and professional life.

"By supporting the STEM Talent Girl program, PPG is helping to break down barriers for young women in STEM and building a pipeline of diverse talent for the future," said Nuria Martinez, PPG plant manager, Valencia. "It also emphasizes employee engagement, with PPG women participating as mentors to guide students and share their own experiences in STEM careers."

ASTI recently issued a report highlighting the critical challenges in fostering STEM interest among young women. It underscored the pivotal role of teachers, educating families about STEM careers and early exposure to female role models in shaping a strong STEM identity. The report found that students participating in the STEM Talent Girl program demonstrated significant improvements in all aspects of STEM identity compared to their peers.

The STEM Talent Girl program addresses these challenges by inspiring students, providing mentorship, and creating a strong network of future female STEM leaders. The program is available in 15 cities across Spain and has recently expanded to include Valencia, Malaga, and Zaragoza.

"The support of PPG is invaluable in helping us expand the STEM Talent Girl program to new cities and inspire more young women," said Lucía López, director of Institutional Relations for the ASTI Foundation. "Through its engagement, PPG is not only contributing to the program's growth but also showing students the real-world possibilities of a STEM career."

Learn more about program at https://talent-girl.com and explore summary of the ASTI Foundation report, Women and STEM: What Do Young Spanish Women Think?.

PPG's global community engagement efforts and the PPG Foundation aim to bring color and brightness to PPG communities around the world. We invested more than $17.5 million in 2023, supporting hundreds of organizations across nearly 40 countries. By investing in educational opportunities, we help grow tomorrow's STEM innovators and skilled workforce in fields related to coatings and manufacturing. Plus, we empower PPG employees to multiply their impact for causes that are important to them by supporting their volunteer efforts and charitable giving. Learn more at communities.ppg.com.

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At PPG (NYSE:PPG), we work every day to develop and deliver the paints, coatings and specialty materials that our customers have trusted for more than 140 years. Through dedication and creativity, we solve our customers' biggest challenges, collaborating closely to find the right path forward. With headquarters in Pittsburgh, we operate and innovate in more than 70 countries and reported net sales of $18.2 billion in 2023. We serve customers in construction, consumer products, industrial and transportation markets and aftermarkets. To learn more, visit www.ppg.com.

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PPG Media Contact:
Brian Wheeler
Automotive OEM Coatings
+1 248 996 2971
[email protected]
www.ppg.com