This summer, Colleen Reesink-Wells, a science and physics teacher here at Roedean School, won first prize while representing the UK’s primary and secondary STEM educators at the ‘Science-on-Stage’ Conference in Finland. Each year, hundreds of teachers from over 35 countries enter this friendly competition to bring together STEM teachers with outstanding teaching ideas, to inspire and excite students beyond national borders.

The project ‘Replacing Plastics: Investigations into Making Natural Polymers’ was executed by the students of Roedean’s Eco Club. It was selected for an upgrade to an hour-long workshop shortly after submission, because of its broad appeal and interdisciplinary nature. In this project, our students made teaspoons from the polymers that naturally exist in milk. The students designed tests to compare the natural polymers against traditional plastic spoons, by looking at strength, ability to withstand heat, and acid and alkaline materials, as well as practical requirements such as shape and smell. They then expanded the project by creating composite materials, looked at materials for laminating, considered types of composting, and developed ideas on ‘the true cost of natural polymers’.

The project targeted a wicked problem: Responsible Consumption and Production (UN Sustainable Development Goal 12). SDG12 is a critical key to a healthy and sustainable future for mankind, as it spans across topics, such as plastic pollution. The burden of such large targets may overwhelm at first glance, however, vision knowledge and creative energy converge to create solutions when our imagination is allowed to flourish. Working together, we have more and more diverse ideas. This is what Colleen and the Roedean Environmental and Eco Club have shown in their outstanding project.

Colleen will be heading to the EU Parliament Conference on Sustainability and UN Sustainability Goals in Brussels, as well as the Annual Science Conference in Nottingham (ASE), to continue to develop her track record of outstanding education. The Environmental club and Eco Club will continue during Activity sessions, and we look forward to finding out more about this important field!

Congratulations on this remarkable work!