Polymer Ambassadors
The BPF is pleased to introduce the Career Ambassadors scheme along with the established Polymer Ambassadors scheme. All the information needed to participate in the schemes is available below.
The BPF Ambassador scheme is an initiative to give people from the polymers industry the opportunity to teach children and students about the exciting world of polymers and to engage them with the possibilities of science, engineering and manufacturing. Along with these skills, the schemes empower individuals to share their career paths and explain the various careers available within the industry.
Ambassadors are trained to use an engaging plastic experiments kit that has a set of five experiments that show how different types of polymers have important applications in our everyday lives. Ambassdors will receive this kit for free to take with them to schools (depending on availability).
The scheme is run jointly by the British Plastics Federation and PlasticsEurope.
This comprehensive one day training programme will provide Ambassadors with all the information they need to be able to go into schools and deliver an introduction to plastics and its many wonderful properties.
Ambassadors will not only be able to use the resources made available via Polymer Zone but also will be armed with "Olly's Cool Box of Plastics" - a toolkit of experiments kindly provided by PlasticsEurope.
In addition the BPF have partnered with the STEM and Cogent Ambassador programmes, which are nationwide schemes supporting in excess of 30,000 Ambassadors entering schools to discuss science, engineering and maths. In order to ensure that the Ambassadors have the best backup available (including email updates on opportunities in local schools and access to a database of resources) Ambassadors, if they have not already done so, will be asked to sign up to the STEM Ambassador Programme.
At the end of the training day attendees will:
• Understand BPF’s objectives when working with young people.
• Understand the UK's STEM agenda and relevance for STEM / BPF Ambassadors.
• Understand the guidelines for a STEM / BPF Ambassador activity.
• Know how to access further training and resources.
• Have had an opportunity to network with other attendees and know about further communications.
• Feel welcomed as a STEM / BPF Ambassador volunteer.
• Have gained an overview of the STEM curriculum in schools and relevant activities.
• Gained knowledge on the 'Olly' kit to use with young people.
• Developed your own brief action plan of next steps.
Videos showing how to run the 5 experiments:
Why you should always wear your helmet! Protect the Egg Experiment
Soak up an amazing amount of water with this material!
How to make a gooey ball from PVA glue
How to get clean drinking water...
Plastic Films EN