On February 17 and March 23, 2016 approximately 22 students in an introductory environmental science class at Augsburg College performed a bioplastics experiment that is currently in development by CSP senior investigator Jane Wissinger’s group. Augsburg College Professor Michael Wentzel included the experiment to address the topic of plastics and their impact on the environment for this class of non-science majors. CSP teaching postdoc, Dr. Perry Wilbon, led groups of students in the synthesis of renewable polymers made from starch, glycerol, and citric acid. A dye was added to allow studies of their degradation rates using UV spectroscopy. A class survey will provide valuable feedback on how to improve this experiment for future classes and gauge their perceptions of how scientists are developing new technologies for sustainable materials.
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