Fantastic Plastic : A Masterclass in Science Communication

The August SPRA meeting, in the impressive Lindsay Stewart Lecture Theatre at Edinburgh Napier University, deviated from the normal technical meeting by exploring how to attract young people to careers in science and technology and provide the next generation of scientists, engineers and entrepreneurs to keep the polymer industry competitive on the global scale. The SPRA took the opportunity of the presence of Prof Averil Macdonald in Edinburgh (for the SPRA Schools Lecture) to invite her to address an audience of SPRA members and professionals from other bodies, all with an interest in science and technology communication, on how she uses her ‘Fantastic Plastic' Lecture to generate an interest at school level in studying science and technology and following related careers.

In an entertaining presentation Professor Macdonald, Professor of Science Communication at the University of Reading, explained how she uses simple experiments involving polymers to capture the imagination of pupils, from primary school age up to school leavers. Having caught their attention she then introduces examples of how polymers have transformed their lives, with particular products very familiar to the pupils themselves.

The demonstration of water absorbent polymers using a disposable nappy normally brings out stifled embarrassed laughter in her school audiences. The production of favourite toys, based on the versatile mechanical properties of polymers, never fails to elicit nostalgic ‘aaaahs’. Prof Macdonald explained that she then reverts to her sub theme of ‘How to make your first £million’, looking first at the attributes of entrepreneurs and pointing out that several people in her young audiences already have such attributes. In particular she concentrates on the ability of entrepreneurs to spot an opportunity, giving some historical examples involving polymers that ring a bell with the audience. The climax of her Fantastic Plastic lecture takes her audience on a journey from the discovery of electrically conducting polymers to their application in a range of products about to burst onto the market such as radiofrequency identification tags (RFID) which will revolutionise retailing, roll-up flexible TV screens, and augmented reality contact lenses. Those who have witnessed the Fantastic Plastic lectures will be aware of the gasps and excited chatter, with increasing crescendo, that greets each innovation.

Prof Macdonald’s previous experience as a school teacher, as well as having two teenage daughters, helps her to engage with pupils but mainly it is her energy and enthusiasm which keeps her audiences spellbound for an hour and sends them home unable to stop talking about plastics, which is the challenge she sets herself each time. This challenge turned out to just as valid for her adult audience at this SPRA meeting, particularly those who were less familiar with polymeric materials.

Report by Charlie Geddes, SPRA Hon Secretary, September 2011