India’s first school made with composite materials

31-Aug-11

August 2011 saw the opening of India’s first school made with composite materials from DSM. The school, situated in the village of Kusgaon, Pune, is a demonstration of DSM’s commitment to using its bright science in both Life Sciences and Materials Sciences to create brighter lives today and for generations to come. Made of composite materials, its lightweight and modular nature means it can be built by four non-skilled workers without the need for any specialist equipment, saving time, money and impact on the local environment compared to 5 to 6 months for traditional schools made from concrete. Its excellent mechanical properties and attractive design have also created a safe, strong, well-insulated and inspirational learning environment. As the world’s biggest producer of vitamins and micronutrients, DSM has also formulated a nutrition program that will help the students attain their full academic potential. It has been calculated by the Copenhagen Consensus think tank that achieving adequate micronutrient levels in its population can impact a country’s GDP by as much as 2%.