The venues and dates for Polymer Study Tours in 2010 are confirmed as:

London - 20 – 23 June

Edinburgh - 27 – 30 June

Manchester - 11 – 14 July

Further details are available here, or contact Belinda Blakeney at the ASE; details below..

These three and a half 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.

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 course outline is:

Day 1.

Starts Sunday afternoon to allow for travel to the course

• Introduction to the course and plastics industry
• The Schools Affiliate Scheme – Diane Aston, Institute of Materials, Minerals and 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
• History and design of polymer products from Horn to modern plastics
• 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 course costs about £850 per teacher and we ask each teacher’s school to contribute just £100 (£150 for non-members of ASE/DATA/TTA/IOM3), the Horners Educational Trust and generous sponsorship by companies and organisations involved in supporting education provide the rest.

To register for the course in 2009 use the application form or contact:

Belinda Blakeney
ASE,
College Lane
Hatfield.
AL10 9AA