Preparing Students for Careers in Sustainable Polymeric Materials with an Advanced Polymer Lab Course
Year: 2025
Type: article
Source: Journal of Chemical Education
Institution: University of Southern California
Language: English
Subfield: Physical and Theoretical Chemistry
Field: Chemistry
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: closed
Awards: PURPOSE: THE PURPOSE OF THIS PROJECT IS TO CREATE A MULTIDISCIPLINARY MINOR IN PLASTICS CIRCULARITY THAT WILL BE AVAILABLE TO ANYONE ACQUIRING MAJOR DEGREES IN CHEMISTRY, CHEMICAL ENGINEERING, ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING, ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE OR BUSINESS/ENTREPRENEURSHIP. IN ADDITION, THE PROJECT WILL CREATE A SUMMER SCHOOL TARGETING COMMUNITY COLLEGE AND PRIMARILY UNDERGRADUATE SERVING INSTITUTIONS (PUIS).ACTIVITIES TO BE PERFORMED: THE PROPOSING TEAM WILL ADD TWO NEW COURSES (POLYMER CHEMISTRY AND POLYMER MEASUREMENT AND SUSTAINABILITY LABORATORY). BOTH WOULD BE REQUIRED COURSED COMBINED WITH PREREQUISITES N CHEMISTRY AND MATH, AS WELL AS OTHER COURSE WORK IN SOME COMBINATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING, GENERAL ENGINEERING, BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION AND MANAGEMENT AND ORGANIZATION DEPARTMENTS AND CHEMICAL ENGINEERING. THE POLYMER LABORATORY CLASSROOM IN PARTICULAR IS IN NEED OF SUPPLEMENTAL EQUIPMENT FOR INSTRUCTION PURPOSES. THEY WILL ALSO PRODUCE A ?MICRO-SEMINAR? FOR INCOMIONG FRESHMENT TO SHOWCASE THE IMPORTANCE AND BREADTH OF THIS NEW MINOR DEGREE IN THE FORM OF TWO 90 MINUTE OVERVIEW SEMINARS. THE SEMINARS WILL INCLUDE PERSPECTIVES FROM EXPERTS IN MANUFACTURING AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP. THE TEAM IS ALSO ADDING AN INNOVATIVE WEEK-LONG SUMMER WORKSHOP DESIGNED TO ENGAGE LOCAL COMMUNITY COLLEGE AND PUI STUDENTS IN THE GREATER LOS ANGELES REGION (E.G. CERRITOS COLLEGE, LOS ANGELES PIERCE COLLEGE, CAL POLY POMONA AND LOCAL CALSTATE CAMPUSES). THE WORKSHOP WILL INCLUDE A COMBINATION OF LECTURE, FIELD TRIP (CATALINA ISLAND BEACH CLEANUP AND BUSINESS TOURS) AND LABORATORY EXPERIENCES. THERE IS OUTREACH PLANNED WITH THE BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA (ON CATALINA ISLAND) AS WELL AS THROUGH STANDING UP A STUDENT-RUN ORGANIZATION ON PLASTICS SUSTAINABILITY. EXPECTED OUTCOMES: THE CHEMISTRY DEPARTMENT HAS A RECENTLY FUNDED PROGRAM WITH THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF UNIVERSITIES THROUGH WHICH IT WILL BE ABLE TO DISSEMINATE RESULTS AND FACILITATE TRANSFER TO OTHER INSTITUTIONS. THEY ALSO PLAN TO PUBLISH OPEN SOURCE COURSE MATERIALS, AND WORK WITH INDUSTRY TO SET UP INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITIES (KEURIG-DR. PEDPPER AND VERDECO ARE ALREADY ONBOARD) AND RECRUITING PIPELINES. THEY ARE ANTICIPATING 10-20 MINORS OUT OF THE APPROXIMATELY 75 CANDIDATES IN ANY GIVEN YEAR IN THE CHEMISTRY PIPELINE ALONE. THEY EXPECT THIS EXPERIENCE TO HELP WITH GRADUATE AND PROFESSIONAL SCHOOL PLACEMENT AND AN INCREASE IN DIRECT TRANSITION TO INDUSTRY POSITIONS FOR STUDENTS COMPLETING THE MINOR. THEY ALSO HOPE TO INCREASE TRANSITIONS FROM COMMUNITY COLLEGE PARTNERS TO 4-YEAR DEGREE PROGRAMS AND STRONGER CONNECTIONS FOR THOSE STUDENTS TO BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY OPPORTUNITIES.INTENDED BENEFICIARIES: THE UNIVERSITY SEES DEMAND FOR THIS PROGRAM FROM STUDENTS, FACULTY, EMPLOYERS AND COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS. THE WHOLISTIC, MULTIDISCIPLINARY APPROACH TO THIS DEGREE PROGRAM IS EXPECTED TO POSITIVELY IMPACT ALL OF THOSE GROUPS.SUBRECIPIENT ACTIVITIES: THE RECIPIENT DOES NOT INTEND TO SUBAWARD FUNDS., G2726610878
OpenAlex ID: W4414100413