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Vaibhav Tidke from Mumbai bags the global Bayer Young Environmental Leader's award at BYEE 2010

• “Environmental Envoys” from 18 countries participated at the Bayer Young Environmental Envoys 2010 program
• Project part of partnership between the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and Bayer

Mumbai, December 8, 2010 – Last month, 50 Young Environmental Envoys from 18 countries across three continents spent a week in Leverkusen, Germany, at the invitation of Bayer to find out more about environmental protection and sustainable development. The young people on the field trip were selected from around 1,700 participants in environmental competitions organized by Bayer in their home countries. Two students, Vaibhav Tidke and Aswin Chandrasekharan, represented India at the forum.

Making India proud, Vaibhav Tidke from Mumbai was chosen as one of four international winners of the Bayer Young Environmental Leaders’ Award 2010.

Vaibhav Baburao Tidke is a second year Master’s student at Institute of Chemical Technology (ICT) in Mumbai. Since the last three years, he has been working on solar processing of agro and marine products. This is an initiative to improve the economic condition of Indian farmers and fishermen by solar drying of these products. His project focuses on developing low cost, solar energy based technologies that harness local knowledge and local resources. He has co-founded an organization called ‘Science for Society’ that brings together like-minded inter-disciplinary students from across the country to work towards the development of sustainable technologies.

Speaking on the occasion, Vaibhav Tidke said, “I’m elated to be honoured with the Global BYEE Leader's award 2010. It was a privilege to be part of BYEE 2010 and represent India on an international forum. I would like to thank Bayer for having faith in me and my project and giving me this opportunity to be one of the environmental envoys at BYEE 2010. The BYEE program has helped me to strengthen my commitment towards the environment.”

TThe second student, Aswin Chandrasekharan, who is currently pursuing his Masters in Software Engineering at Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT) has numerous certificates to his merit in the domain of IT and computers ranging from programming to web-designing. Aswin is involved in a project called “Dye Sensitized Solar Cells” (DSSC). This is a new solar technology that can be used to tap the solar power source and charge daily use appliances such as mobile phones and music players. One of the advantages of DSSC is that they can be wrapped around any object and might be able to extend their application to larger energy-thirsty materials such as automobiles and buildings in the near future.

"The Bayer Young Environmental Envoy Program creates a unique opportunity to share ideas and encourages the global exchange of experiences while underlining Bayer's commitment to a sustainable environment", said Patrick Thomas, Chairman of the Board of Management of Bayer MaterialScience, when welcoming the Bayer Young Environmental Envoys. "We are delighted to see so many young people generating so much creativity to finding practical solutions to many of the environmental challenges we face today".

“Many young people around the world are committed to environmental protection in their communities. They are in a sense our guardians for building a sustainable future”, said Satinder Bindra, UNEP’s Director of the Division of Communications and Public Information. “Tomorrow's leaders can inspire today's world leaders in building a resource efficient, low carbon and profitable green economy.”

Ambassadors on behalf of the environment

The study trip gives the young people an opportunity to gain first-hand experience of the principles and applications of modern environmental protection in Germany. The Young Environmental Envoys thus visit various facilities in Leverkusen such as the incinerator at the Bürrig Waste Management Center. There they have the chance to talk to experts on sustainability and the environment. The program also includes excursions to the North Rhine-Westphalia State Agency for Nature, Environment and Consumer Protection and to AVEA, a waste processing and disposal facility in Leverkusen. The aim is to give young people a fuller understanding of how industry, authorities and private households interact in the field of environmental protection. This year for the first time the young people visited the operator of “The Green Dot” waste separation system, Duales System Deutschland, in Kerpen and the wastewater treatment facilities of the Emscher-genossenschaft / Lippeverband wastewater management partnership in Bottrop. Discussion sessions and an international exchange of ideas rounded off the program.

The Young Environmental Envoy Program, launched in Asia in 1998, is one of the key elements in an alliance between Bayer and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) centering on youth and the environment. The program focuses primarily on the world’s fast-growing emerging economies. Originally introduced in Thailand, the concept was subsequently extended to Brazil, Chile, China, Colombia, Ecuador, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Malaysia, Peru, the Philippines, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Venezuela and Vietnam. This year for the first time, the Environmental Envoys included young people from Argentina.

Bayer-UNEP partnership

Bayer is the first company in the world to enter a long-term partnership with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in the area of youth and the environment. This cooperation focuses on children and young people from all over the world who are interested in environmental issues and committed to protecting the world around them. The partners’ joint aim is to support young people in their commitment to the environment, to expand their knowledge of the environment and to foster the global exchange of experience by building up networks. For this purpose, Bayer and UNEP organize a dozen environmental projects for children and young people around the world every year. The partnership has just been renewed for another 3-year period until end of 2013. So far, more than two million young people have participated in these projects and thus benefited directly from this unique partnership. Bayer also provides financial support to the tune of EUR 1.2 million every year and additional non-cash benefits.

For further information or queries, please contact:

Liza Lobo
Manager – Corporate Communications
Bayer Group in India
Tel: + 91 22 2571 1234
Email: liza.lobo@bayer.com

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