Alcoa Technical Center Celebration of Science and Technology Features Dr. Ming Li, A 2003 Carnegie Science Center Award for Excellence Winner.

Business Editors

UPPER BURRELL, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 9, 2003

Alcoa Technical Center (ATC), Alcoa's largest research, development and engineering facility is pleased to announce its sponsorship of the Fourth Annual Pittsburgh International Science and Technology Festival (SciTech Festival) April 9 - 13 at Carnegie Science Center.

The SciTech Festival (www.scitechfestival.org) attracts international talent in a variety of scientific disciplines and provides forums for them to share their experiences, vision and ideas with other professionals, students and the general public. A community-based event, the Festival's objective is to showcase businesses and researchers shaping the future with science and technology to spur economic growth and student interest in pursuing scientific careers.

These objectives are consistent with the Westmoreland County laboratory's goals to advance awareness of local scientific contributions to global issues and to promote science education and workplace skills training. Alcoa Science & Technology is helping Alcoa to become a more comprehensive supplier of customer solutions. The application of R&D technologies are enabling Alcoa's customers to meet specific end-user requirements for speed, convenience, economy, safety, etc.

Because Alcoa's deep capabilities in research, development and applied engineering are one of the key ways Alcoa delivers solutions to its customers, ATC wants to let students know that careers in science and engineering are fun and rewarding.

This is evident in the work of ATC's Dr. Ming Li. Dr. Li developed a revolutionary process methodology that reduces or eliminates aluminum slivers in automotive trimming operations. This new methodology is making automakers more receptive to using environmentally conscious, lightweight, and easy-to-recycle aluminum alloys. The use of aluminum in today's automobiles gives automakers the ability to offer consumers like you better fuel efficiency and higher performance.

Because of his work developing customer solutions, Dr. Li will be honored with a 2003 Carnegie Science Center Award for Excellence in the Advanced Manufacturing and Materials category. The Carnegie Science Center Awards are presented each year to recognize achievements related to science and technology in southwestern Pennsylvania.

Dr. Li will be available to talk to students and the general public in the Alcoa booth at the Science Center on Saturday, April 12 from 2 to 4 p.m.

In addition to Dr. Li's service, throughout the SciTech Festival Alcoa Technical Center scientists and engineers will judge student science projects, counsel college recruits and tell students and the public about Alcoa's products and opportunities for students who pursue scientific careers. Alcoa's exhibit detailing the company's aerospace contributions, along with many of the other SciTech Festival exhibits, will be on display at the Carnegie Science Center through April 13.

Alcoa is the world's leading producer of primary aluminum, fabricated aluminum and alumina, and is active in all major aspects of the industry. Alcoa serves the aerospace, automotive, packaging, building and construction, commercial transportation and industrial markets, bringing design, engineering, production and other capabilities of Alcoa's businesses to customers. In addition to aluminum products and components, Alcoa also markets consumer brands including Reynolds Wrap(R) foils and plastic wraps, Alcoa(R) wheels, and Baco(R) household wraps. Among its other businesses are vinyl siding, closures, precision castings, and electrical distribution systems for cars and trucks. The company has 127,000 employees in 39 countries. More information can be found at www.alcoa.com.