Daily Pioneer News

PLATTEVILLE- Platteville, Mineral Point, Slinger and Beloit Memorial high school students learned and participated in the process of making plastic parts at free workshops held at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville Center for Plastics Processing Technology over the fall semester.

Created by the Society of Plastics Engineers-Milwaukee Section, the UWP Center for Plastics Processing Technology, and the plastics industry in an effort to spark student interest in technical fields, the workshops are available to any middle or high school science and technology program on Fridays. The program allows for the schools to incorporate multi-million dollar facilities into their teaching curriculum.

UWP faculty and trained students donated their time to lead high school students through each activity. Each workshop can be catered to complement the school's current curriculum. There are 42 different education modules available. These include chemistry, physics and industrial arts classes. Transportation and food are provided free of cost by the SPE-Milwaukee Section. UWP and the plastics industry provide materials and equipment for the training.

"I would classify this program as the highest achievement for educational programs for secondary students. We will continue our joint accomplishment," said Mike Thomas, a member of the board of directors of SPE-Milwaukee Section.

"The continuation of success for this industry is highly dependent on the quality of workforce in the region. I am glad that UWP with the state's high schools plays an important roll in the training of manpower for the ever growing plastics industry," said Majid Tabrizi, director for the UWP Center for Plastics Processing Technology.

Instructors brought their students to the workshop for a variety of reasons. Some wanted their students to gain a better understanding of the importance of plastics and college academics. Others wanted their students to see how many different jobs there are in engineering and technology.

"Plastic parts are all over. This gives the students hands-on experience in designing and making parts. We get to also see what the school is all about and what kinds of plastics technology it has," said Russ Hermann, technology education instructor for Slinger High School. "Everywhere you look, no matter if the economy is weak or strong, every job is related to manufacturing in some way, shape or form. I don't think students always know just how many types of engineering jobs there are."

"Most students here think college is just more studying, but it's not like that. The whole atmosphere here is hands-on learning. Tech-ed students who like hands-on learning make plans to go to a vocational school. They don't realize that four-year schools offer the same kind of program," said Andy Kruser, a UWP alumnus and technology education teacher at Beloit Memorial High School.

In the four workshops this semester, students were educated on different plastics materials, applications of the materials, the chemistry of plastics and how different materials and parts are made. Then, they were able to participate in the parts manufacturing process, operating a sheet-fed thermoformer and injection molder. With the machines, students made an ice scraper and car and had the choice of making a butterfly, Viking, eagle, bird or head of a man, all of which they took home. They also made latex using a chemical process and assembled models of plastic molecules.

"I was impressed by the amount of machines they have. I want to go into engineering so the new technology and computer stuff (we're learning here) applies," said A.J. Crass, a senior at Slinger High School.

"I thought the workshop went very well. Plastics is a new thing for me, but found it interesting. It's unique. I was amazed at all the stuff happening (in manufacturing). I don't think about it on a daily basis," said Joseph Fields, a senior at Beloit Memorial High School.

Students not only learned about plastics processing technology, but also learned about UWP and got a glimpse of college life. They were free to interact with current UWP industrial studies and engineering students, asking them questions about the UWP industrial studies program or about what it's like to be a college student.

"We saw more of campus than we usually do being in the lab. We don't learn about plastics specifically at our school. It's interesting to experience more science-related things here," said Brianna Bennett, a senior at Mineral Point High School. "We've been here before for competitions. It's really nice, it's bigger than you realize. It was cool being here on a school day because you got to see all the people walking to classes."

Four more high schools will experience the workshop in January and February 2009 and other schools have shown interest in the program. Their participation will be on the bases of availability of resources from SPE-Milwaukee Section.

Anyone wanting more information about or to register for one of the Friday workshops may contact Tabrizi at (608) 342-1115 or tabrizi@uwplatt.edu.

Contact: Majid Tabrizi, director, Center for Plastics Processing Technology, (608) 342-1115, tabrizi@uwplatt.edu. Written by: Krystle Kurdi, UWP Public Relations, (608) 342-1194, kurdik@uwplatt.edu.

Labels: plastics processing technology, tabrizi