Mrs. Smith attends CSP Workshop in UM

In late June the Center for Sustainable Polymers at the University of Minnesota held its first Bioplastics Workshop for Teachers. Teachers learned a new lab where students convert starch to plastic and test the properties of their samples. The workshop included participants from the Minneapolis/St. Paul metro area, Georgia, and New York.

It was a great opportunity to understand sustainable polymers because this is what Danimer and Meredian use to make their products. Danimer and Meredian are two local companies.  All travel expenses and hotel accommodations were paid for by the Center for Sustainable Polymers.  She is looking forward to using her new knowledge in her classroom.  She hopes to tie it in with a field trip to both Bainbridge companies.

Mrs. Smith plans to share her new knowledge with others in the county. Throughout the last school year, Mrs. Smith met with a number of business employees, Decatur County teachers and administrators, and Bainbridge College employees to discuss implementing components of the new STEM grant for Decatur County.  “Stem” is the new buzz word in education.  Many school supply catalogs and workbooks use this new buzz word to sell their products or introduce a new classroom activity.  It is an acronym that stands for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Unfortunately, the USA is not at the top when it comes to preparing students for STEM related jobs.  Preparing students to be STEM ready means that they have had opportunities to participate in a projects based program that addresses community problems along side of local businesses.  The projects would require knowledge and application of the components of STEM. (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics).