Innovation Day 2025
The Science History Institute and the Society of Chemical Industry America will present the 22nd annual Innovation Day on September 8, 2025.
This hybrid event will feature a combination of in-person and online programming. In-person programming will be held at the Science History Institute Conference Center in historic Old City Philadelphia. More information on the day’s format will be available by July 1, 2025. We will accommodate all speakers and presenters in the format they are most comfortable using.
Find directions and parking information here. Please contact InnovationDay@sciencehistory.org with questions.
Overview
The Innovation Day Steering Committee—made up of R&D staff from SCI America’s member companies—has built an exciting agenda for this year’s meeting. We open with a panel on professional development, followed by a poster session and networking. After a lunch, the annual Warren G. Schlinger Symposium will include an address from 2025 SCI Gordon E. Moore Medalist Linqian Feng. Next, panel experts will participate in engaging presentations and discussions on topics that explore this year’s themes: Sustainability & Profitability and Modern Innovative Productivity Tools/Speed to Market.
Morning Programming
Professional Development Panel
Organized by Elizabeth Ross-Medgaarden, Deidre Sandrock, and Felicia Parks
Details to follow.
Afternoon Sessions
Sustainability & Profitability: Tracks 1 & 2
Organized by Bob Butterick, Sudhakar Jale, Peter Loggenberg, and Dave Slinkman
Details to follow.
Modern Innovative Productivity Tools/Speed to Market
Organized by Michael Demko, Arthur Martin, Mitch Refvik, Anand Tanikella, and Chris Wren
Details to follow.
Schedule
Attire: Business/Business Casual
| 8:30am–10:15am In-Person | Check-in Opens (Lobby) Coffee and continental breakfast until 9:45am | |
| 9am In-Person | Museum open 9am–3:30pm Self-guided scavenger hunt available throughout the day | |
| 8:45am–9:40am In-Person | Morning Programming Organized by Felicia Parks, Hallstar; Elizabeth Ross-Medgaarden, LyondellBasell; Deidre Sandrock, Milliken | |
| 10am–11:15am In-Person | Poster Session | |
| 11:30am–1pm In-Person | Innovation Day Luncheon | |
| 12:15pm In-Person/Online | Welcome David A. Cole, President and CEO, Science History Institute Anthony O’Donovan, President and CEO, Arkema The Warren G. Schlinger Symposium Linqian Feng, Eastman Chemical Company, 2025 SCI Gordon E. Moore Medalist20-minute talk followed by Q&A | |
| 1pm–1:45pm In-Person/Online | Break and Networking Activity Options: Continuation of Poster Networking Museum Programming (self-guided scavenger hunt available in museum) | |
| 1:45pm–3:15pm In-Person/Online | Breakout Panels: Sessions 1 & 2 Organized by Bob Butterick, Dow; Sudhakar Jale, W. R. Grace; Peter Loggenberg, Trecora; Dave Slinkman, Quaker Houghton | |
| 3:15pm–3:30pm | Break; Museum closes at 3:30pm | |
| 3:30pm–5pm In-Person/Online | Breakout Panels: Session 3 Organized by Jeff Carbeck, Eastman; Michael Demko, Dupont; Arthur Martin, Arkema; Mitch Refvik, Chevron Phillips Chemical; Anand Tanikella, Trinseo; Chris Wren, Hexion | |
| 5pm–6pm In-Person | Cocktails and Networking | |
Awards
SCI Gordon E. Moore Medal
The Society of Chemical Industry, America Group (SCI America), established the SCI Gordon E. Moore Medal to recognize early-career success in innovation, as reflected both in market impact and improvement to quality of life. By highlighting extraordinary individuals and their work, SCI America aims to promote public understanding of research and development in modern chemical industries, enhance the interest of students in applied chemistry by providing role models, and emphasize the role of creative research in the global economy.
The 2025 Moore Medal honoree is Linqian Feng, coatings application research group leader at Eastman Chemical Company.
SCI Perkin Medal
The SCI Perkin Medal was established to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the discovery of mauvene. Today the medal is widely acknowledged as the highest honor in American industrial chemistry. William Henry Perkin was a founding member of SCI, and this medal was first presented in New York to Perkin himself.
The 2025 Perkin Medal honoree is Bruce DeBruin, senior fellow scientist at Eastman Chemical Company.
Steering Committee
Robert Butterick
Northeast Dow Center Site Leader
Dow Inc.
Jeff Carbeck
Vice President of Corporate Innovation
Eastman Chemical Company
Michael Demko
Technology Leader, Tedlar
DuPont
Sudhakar Jale
Global Marketing Director, Chemical Catalysts
W. R. Grace & Company
Wen Li
Chief of Polymer Products
ExxonMobil Technology and Engineering
Peter Loggenberg
Executive Vice President of Specialty Polymers and Corporate Strategy
Trecora
Arthur W. Martin
Vice President R&D North America
Arkema Inc.
Andrew Mint
Senior Global Director – Solution Centers/R&D
Univar Solutions
Felicia Parks
Technical Director, North America
Hallstar
Mitchell D. Refvik
Senior Manager Polyolefin Catalysis
Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LP
Elizabeth I. Ross-Medgaarden
Sr. Manager, Acetyls and Basic & Fundamental R&D
Houston Technology Center
LyondellBasell
Deidre L. Sandrock
Director of Sustainability and Innovation
Milliken & Company
Dave Slinkman
Senior Vice President, R&D, and Chief Technology Officer
Quaker Houghton
Anand Tanikella
Vice President, R&D and Innovation
Trinseo LLC
Chris Wren
North America OSB R&D Leader
Hexion
