POLYMER STUDY TOURS 2013

These four day residential courses are designed to provide teachers with case studies that they can use in contextual teaching of both science and design & technology and they give teachers the opportunity to meet in an informal environment to exchange views on the teaching of science and design & technology. They help to educate teachers on the science, technology and applications of polymers (both plastics and rubbers). From the industry point of view the Polymer Study Tours provide information and create interest, which will promote the recruitment of high quality scientists and technologists for the plastics and associated industries. In addition the courses promote the knowledge of polymers and plastics and their importance to the quality of everyday life and thereby enhance the image of plastics and the plastics industry in the eyes of future consumers. 

This course gives you the unique opportunity to visit major plastics processing Companies and to attend lectures and discussions with leading figures from industry and academia . There are sessions in the laboratories where you can operate machines to make and collect samples to take back to school and use test equipment.

The tours have been approved for Professional Development by the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining and teachers who complete the course will receive a Certificate of Attendance for their portfolio.

The three residential courses are basically similar, with differences to suit the local plastics factories that are to be visited and the facilities of the sponsoring Universities.
 
The Brochure for the 2013 Course which includes an application form is available here:
 
We are pleased to have sponsorship from a number of companies and if you are interested further details can be obtained here.
 
  
The 2013 Courses will be held at:

Edinburgh, 23rd - 26th June
London,     30th June - 3rd July
Manchester, 7th - 10th July.

The course outline is: 

Day 1
 
Starts Sunday afternoon to allow for travel to the course
  • Introduction to the course and plastics industry
  • Education support from the Institute of Materials Minerals & Mining.
  • Dinner, followed by informal ice breaker event such as rocket car racing

Day 2

  • Polymer Materials and Polymer applications - formal lectures
  • Polymer Workshop in the labs - Hands on processing and testing where the teachers get to make things and break things, and take photos for their schools
  • Dinner, followed by guest lecture from local industrialist or academic

Day 3

  • Industrial visits to local plastics processing companies - photo opportunities
  • Course dinner with short speech by an Officer from the Worshipful Company of Horners

Day 4

Closes about 4pm
  • Polymer Identification and Testing - Tests that can be replicated at schools
  • The Sustainable Environment- talk and discussion on recycling
  • Plastics Product Design - Examples of good and bad design
  • The Polymer Industry and Support for Schools
  • Final session- evaluation, development and improvement; CD ROM of course material and photos is provided later in the year.
The Courses are closely related to the science and design technology curriculum and you can find out exactly how the various activities fit in by visiting :
 

 
  
This residential course is entirely FREE to teachers once they arrive at the venue due to the generous sponsorship of the Horners' Educational Trust, companies in the polymer industry, and organisations involved in supporting education. The cost of travel to/from your chosen venue, and the cost of any replacement teaching staff, is the responsibility of the teacher and/or school. We do however ask for a £50 booking deposit which is refunded when you attend the course.

For further information you can contact:
 
Diane Aston
The Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining
The Boilerhouse
Springfield Business Park
Caunt Road Grantham
Lincolnshire NG31 7FZ

Tel 01476 513882 or by e-mail via diane.aston@iom3.org

If you would like to become a sponsor, then further details are here.