Graduate Student Outreach and Aspire Programs
Welcome to the Polymer Science and Engineering outreach and ASPIRE programs web site. Whether you have eager kindergarteners or curious high school seniors, we can tailor an informative learning experience in polymer science; with highlights in physics, chemistry and engineering. Students in grades K-12 that attend an outreach presentation, learn about different aspects of polymer science and what polymer scientists do to make plastics and rubbers. High-School students that apply and are selected to participate in the ASPIRE program get a "hands-on" look at polymer science and the scientific method, as they make polymers from scratch and test their properties in state of the art instrumentation here at the polymer science and engineering department.
- Outreach's mission is to educate students on the roles that polymers play in their everyday lives, to convey the excitement of scientific investigation, to portray a positive image of research and to provide role models.
- The program is directed towards K-12 students.
A typical outreach Presentation Contains the following:
- Introduction: What is a Polymer
- Examples of Polymers in daily life
- Difference between polymer and plastic
- Types of polymers
- Chemistry of Polymers
- Nomenclature, chemical Structure, effects of crosslinking
- Physics of Polymers
- Introduction to Tg, morphology
- Engineering Aspects of Polymers
- Applications of polymers, strength, toughness, fracture
We also do a series of interactive demos to get the students directly involved in polymer science:
- Examine Tg with bouncy balls
- Energy absorbed before, during and after Tg
- Environmental Stress Cracking
- Strength of PC before and after application of acetone
- Properties of Silly Putty
- Fast, slow speed properties. Long term creep
- Milkshakes and Polymers
- PVA gellation (same polymers as diaper)
- Shrinking 2L bottles
- Polymer memory
- Racquet Ball explosion
- Properties below Tg
View some sample slides from our Outreach presentation
How do I get my students/sons/daughters involved?
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- The ASPIRE program is a series of experiments and laboratory discussions conducted by graduate students from the UMass-Amherst Polymer Science and Engineering Department designed for high school students interested in science.
- ASPIRE meets five consecutive Saturdays in January for four hours each time.
- The goal is to introduce high school students to various aspects of science that could not be taught in the classroom.
High school students that wish to be involved in the ASPIRE program need a recommendation from a local high school science teacher. Enrollment is limited to 15 students total for the program per year.
How do I get my students/sons/daughters involved?
**Coming soon!** Tour our online interactive polymer laboratory
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How do I get my students/sons/daughters involved?
The outreach program gives a 1 hour presentation, once a month to students K-12. We encourage students to come to the department to hear the presentation, and suggest this as a fun and informative field trip. We only do one presentation a month, and it's on a first come first serve basis. If you would like to schedule a presentation for your class, please contact Jessica McCoy (jmccoy@mail.pse.umass.edu). Local area teachers only, please.
The ASPIRE program meets for five consecutive weekends in January-February. High school students that wish to be involved in the ASPIRE program need a recommendation from a local high school science teacher. Seniors are given higher priority since there are only a limitted number of slots (15) available. Forms can be faxed to Greg Dabkowski at (413) 545-0082 starting at the end of December.
ASPIRE application form
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For more information feel free to contact one of the coordinators via email:
Dr. Greg Dabkowski, (gdabkowski@research.umass.edu)
ASPIRE and Outreach Advisor
Student involvment and support for the outreach and ASPIRE programs is provided by the PSE department and the PSE graduate student organization (PSE club)
Funding for the Outreach and ASPIRE programs is provided by:
