March 10, 2015
Dow highlights scientists on International Women's Day
A 1993 Spartan Engineer was part of the celebration when Dow Chemical Company marked International Women’s Day on March 8, giving people the chance to celebrate the economic, political and social achievements of women.
Tracy Young (BS Chem Egr ’93) began at Dow during her first year at Delta College when she had a co-op position with the company. The experience showed her what chemical engineers do, both in finding technical solutions and working with customers.
She went on to graduate from Michigan State University with a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering in 1993.
For the past five years she has worked in Dow’s Water and Process Solutions business as the growth technologies director. She helps the business explore new technologies, build alliances in the industry and bring new technology to the market.
Water is an important business, with water scarcity a concern for many around the world as populations grow. Young said Dow’s solutions can help customers process water for a variety of uses, including municipal systems delivering water to homes, farms, industrial processing and power generation.
“Water really does impact all industries and all people,” she said. “It’s essential for life.”
The products needed will vary based on the location of a project and the intended use of the water, and Dow helps customers find the proper solutions, Young said. She said Dow recently launched products to recover more water while using less energy. This could free up more fresh water for other uses, such as in homes. “I love it,” Young said of finding solutions like this.
When working with students and young professionals, Young likes to emphasize that working in the chemical industry can mean much more than working in a lab.
“It really is connecting technology with customers,” she said.
People should ask questions and get involved if they have an interest in science, Young said.
“Within science careers, take the opportunities to see if there’s co-op or intern experiences, meet people and explore what the careers are about,” she said. “It really takes what you learn in school to a reality of what that means and what scientists and engineers are capable of doing.”
Story courtesy of the Midland Daily News
March 8, 2015
