Abbott, a global health care company and its philanthropic foundation the Abbott Fund were honoured at the 10th Asian Forum on Corporate Responsibility in the Philippines with an Asian CSR Award for educational improvement for advancing science education in the region. Abbott Science Education Programmes reached thousands of children in 2010-2011 through creative, innovative events designed to spark an interest in life-long science learning.

A critical part of the Abbott Science Education Programmes in China, Korea and Singapore was the involvement of more than 500 Abbott scientists, engineers and other employee volunteers, lending their expertise to introduce children to the wonders of science. Working in partnership with local government officials and educators, and with the support of the Abbott Fund, Abbott staff coordinated interactive events like Family Science, which provides fun, hands-on science learning opportunities for parents and children typically underserved in the area of science education. Abbott expert volunteers lead experiments that use common objects such as cups, balloons and paper to allow families to explore the ways that science is part of their everyday lives. To date, more than 16,000 children and parents have participated in Family Science and other science programs in Asia and around the globe.

“Through Abbott Science Education Programmes, we hope to foster a stronger appreciation for science and innovation, and inspire the next generation of scientists who may go on to discover tomorrow's breakthrough medicines and technologies,” said Katherine Pickus, divisional vice president, Global Citizenship & Policy, Abbott. “As a science-focused company, advancing future innovation is important to our business as well as communities in Asia and around the world.”

Providing positive exposure to science at an early age has been found to be critical to inspiring future interest according to a recent report by the OECD (Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development). Other research has shown that parental participation in education is twice as predictive of student academic success as family socioeconomic status.

Abbott's Science Education Programmes in Asia are part of the company's broader global efforts to inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers. Over the past five years, Abbott and the Abbott Fund have contributed more than $25 million to support programs that advance science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education. These science learning programmes and museum exhibits reach more that 1 million young people around the world each year.

Global citizenship is an integral part of Abbott's mission to improve people's lives, focused on four key areas: innovating for the future, enhancing access to health care, protecting patients and consumers, and safeguarding the environment. Working in partnership with others, Abbott leverages its core business expertise and resources to create sustainable solutions in countries around the world.

Abbott was included on the prestigious Dow Jones Sustainability Indexes for the seventh consecutive year in 2011 in recognition of continued global leadership in economic, environmental and social performance. Abbott also ranked No. 28 on Barron’s magazine 2011 ranking of the world’s most respected companies, and has been included on the 100 Best Corporate Citizens list compiled by Corporate Responsibility magazine for two consecutive years. In addition to these global honours, Abbott has been recognized for its sustainability efforts in countries around the world, including Brazil, China, Denmark, Finland, Ireland, Italy, Korea, Mexico, Singapore, Tanzania and the United States.

The Abbott Fund is a philanthropic foundation established by Abbott  and its mission is to create healthier global communities by investing in creative ideas that promote science, expand access to health care and strengthen communities worldwide.