Schools Lectures: "Fantastic Plastic"

Encouraged by the success of the 2009 SPRA Schools Lecture, "Fantastic Plastic", which informed and entertained 375 pupils from 11 schools, the SPRA Council embarked on the ambitious plan to double the audience in 2010, by holding two lectures, one in Edinburgh and the second in Glasgow on the following day. Fortunately Professor Averil Macdonald, Professor of Science Communication at Reading University, was available and willing to deliver her popular lecture/demonstration as a double header on 25 and 26 August. Despite financial constraints and organisational issues, which caused six schools to cancel their initial booking, the two lectures, hosted by the School of Engineering and the Built Environment at Edinburgh Napier University and the Department of Pure and Applied Chemistry at the University of Strathclyde, attracted a total of 750 pupils and teachers from 21 schools across Scotland.

On both days Prof Macdonald succeeded in retaining the attention and firing up the imagination of her large audiences throughout her presentation. From the moment she introduced the alternative title of her talk as "How to make your first million", until her final slide revealing the latest application of conducting polymers, the 3 mm thick flexible TV screen, she held her audience spellbound.

Intermingling demonstrations of polymer gels and coagulation of natural rubber latex with applications of plastics, to which the pupils could identify, such as disposable nappies, oil slick recovery, toys, RFID tags and futuristic lighting effects, she drove home the underlying message that studying science can lead to fascinating discoveries and inventions, while enjoying enhanced financial rewards, even towards that first £million.

Immediate feedback from schools emphasised the inspirational nature of Prof Macdonald's presentation. Pupil's were still debating some of the content days later and at least one pupil decided to change his choice of university course.                

Feedback from schools

"Thank you for this wonderful opportunity. All of the pupils thoroughly enjoyed Averil's presentation and she has given them plenty to think about."

"Three days on I am still in conversation with the pupils regarding their Dad's opinion on the OLED screen TVs their Grannie's opinion on the new shopping trolleys and their friend's opinion on liquid rubber and what could be done with it."

"A great lecture overall which will be very helpful in the Product Design Course."

"The 6th year Product Design folk were delighted and are still raving about it as is their Head of Department."

"One of my PhD students described it as the best 1 hour she's spent in a lecture for many a while."

"Thoroughly enjoyed the 'Fantastic Plastic' lecture as did all the pupils. Averil was very entertaining and did very well to hold the attention of so many pupils for the hour. This was a great introduction to where we are going with plastics (sorry, polymers)."

"Just to say thank you very much for organising such an excellent lecture. Our pupils really enjoyed it and were all talking about it when we got back to school."

More details of Fantastic Plastic and Prof Macdonald's activities in encouraging more to study science can be found at www.fantasticplastic.org.uk

Report by Charlie Geddes, SPRA Hon Secretary   September 2010