Interdisziplinäre Lehre: Meeting Global Challenges
Bioplastics
Beacon of Hope or Greenwashing?
Registration
The registration takes place via RWTH Online and is possible until September 30th. Further information about the registration process can be found in our FAQ.
All students can register for one module. You can specify two preferences. Please use the numbers “1” and “2”. If you have not been assigned a place in the project after the end of the assignment and are still interested in participating, please contact sibel.yildirim[@]ipw.rwth-aachen.de directly.
(If you have any problems with the registration or with RWTHonline, please contact Mrs. Sibel Yildirim (IPW), also stating your matriculation number: sibel.yildirim@ipw.rwth-aachen.de)
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Academic Responsibility
Prof. Priv.-Doz. Dr. Stefan Böschen
Forschungs- und Lehrgebiet „Technik und Gesellschaft“ am HumTec
RWTH Aachen
ROF. DR. RER. NAT. SONJA HERRES-PAWLIS
Profilbereich Molecular Science & Engineering (MSE), Lehrstuhl für Bioanorganische Chemie und Institut für Anorganische Chemie
RWTH Aachen
Dr. Nataliya Tkachenko
Lehrstuhl für Bioanorganische Chemie und Institut für Anorganische Chemie
RWTH Aachen
Contact Person
Vesna Kolaric
Alina Cohnen, M.Ed.
Hiwi Name
Schedulue
Start
17.10.2023
Time
Tuesday, 6:30-8:00 p.m.
Place
In person
H10 | C.A.R.L.
Contents
Conventional plastics (such as polyethylene, which is used for bottles) have fallen into disrepute in the recent past. Environmental impacts have made it clear that although plastic is a very functional material, it raises questions in terms of sustainability. Therefore, not only a circular economy is being discussed at the moment, but also whether bioplastics are not the solution to the problem. Is it not possible that sustainable plastics can be developed through a completely different raw material base and different product and degradation properties? The answer so far is mixed. There are indeed new properties and potentials through bioplastics; however, it is also evident here that the devil is often in the detail and the path to greenwashing is short. So this is a good time to discuss an interim status here, addressing fundamental questions about the properties of these materials as well as those surrounding the assessment of sustainability and, finally, the entire chain of a circular economy. On the research side, such challenges are being answered with completely new concepts, such as that of the real labs.
Learning Outcomes
After this course, students will be able to
… distinguish bioplastics from other, classical plastics
… name basic problems of sustainability assessment of bioplastics
… explain the concept of circular economy and its pitfalls using this example
… distinguish between the basic types of real laboratories
… apply the concept of real laboratories to bioplastics research
… develop interdisciplinary problems
Program
t.b.a.
Introduction: Bioplastics, forms and challenges
Dozent*in
Lehrstuhl/Institut/Organisation
t.b.a.
Specification 1: Bioplastics: chemical basics
Dozent*in
Lehrstuhl/Institut/Organisation
t.b.a.
Specification 2: Bioplastics: Sustainability assessment
Dozent*in
Lehrstuhl/Institut/Organisation
t.b.a.
Specification 3: Bioplastics and the circular economy
Dozent*in
Lehrstuhl/Institut/Organisation
t.b.a.
Specification 4: Bioplastics and entrepreneurial strategies
Dozent*in
Lehrstuhl/Institut/Organisation
t.b.a.
Specification 5: Bioplastics and everyday practice
Dozent*in
Lehrstuhl/Institut/Organisation
t.b.a.
Merger: Bioplastics: Circular economy through real laboratories
Dozent*in
Lehrstuhl/Institut/Organisation
Procedure/Working method
Depending on the course of studies, module and examination, credit points can be achieved through participation. If you would like to take an exam, please make sure beforehand how you can get credit for it in your degree program. Of course, you can also take exams without receiving curricular credit for them. Visit our FAQs for more information.
Certificate/Examination | RWTHonline |
|---|---|
Certificate of Participation (0 CP, not graded) | - |
Protocol with critical analysis (2 CP, not graded) | Project "Leonardo": Protocol with Analysis |
Term Paper 15-20 pages (4 CP) | Project "Leonardo": Study Paper |
