ABOUT US

Hands-on Polymers project

The Hands-on Polymers is a Pedagogical Innovation Project of IST that supports an innovative and multidisciplinary laboratory at IST, in the area of ​​Polymer Processing towards sustainable plastics, with a strong connection to Industry and Society in general.

How? By gathering, organizing, operating and exploring equipment belonging to IST in order to have a competitive advantage in the area of ​​polymer processing and make it available for teaching activities at IST. Also, it is intended to promote multi and interdisciplinarity through interdepartmental collaborations, as well as service supply to the Industry and dissemination to Society.

Students have the opportunity to work in multidisciplinary teams, to have “hands-on” access to polymer processing equipment to autonomously apply theoretical concepts and learn collaboratively

 

Hands-on Polymers Lab

  • Multidisciplinary and innovative lab at IST
  • Physical, modular space
  • Creation of the environment of a polymer production and transformation unit
  • Give support to curricular units of several departments of IST

Hands-on Polymers Lab

Integrated work among curricular units from different departments at IST, illustrating the Circular Economy Concept

Pitch presentation of the integrated works, to Academic and Industrial members

Award for the best works

Mission

The mission of the Hands-on Polymers Lab is to exploit a competitive advantage in terms of
polymers processing capabilities and know-how and to strengthen the link between Education,
Research, Industry and Society

 

1

Education


Promote students contact with environments that simulate a polymer processing unit and allow them to work in interdisciplinary teams (with colleagues from other courses). Provide a hands-on, action-oriented, collaborative and modern learning experience.
2

Research


Establish R&D projects that bring funding to the lab; Provide case studies for classes and involve undergraduate and graduate students in ongoing R&D projects.

3

Industry

Collaboration agreements, service supply, sponsorship from industry, case studiesn for classes, internships for the best students.


4

Society

Promote scientific dissemination through demonstrations to society.


 

Vision

Changing the way we teach and we learn to generate highly skilled professionals for the jobs of
the future, and profitable collaborations with the Industry, for a sustainable and advanced
Society.

Testemonials

  • “it has been the best experience when it comes to studying, planning and developing an industry-related problem in a real context since I´ve started at the University”
    António Cardoso, Master student MEGI
  • "I feel this experience as a bridge to the industry, ... it takes students to collaborate with each other while participating in the activities ... really internalizing the concepts learned”
    Teresa Pereira, Master student MEM
  • “The demonstrations I did had a very beneficial aspect of responsibility for me, as I had to develop sufficient proficiency in handling the equipment to be able to manage the extrusion, clear up any doubts and integrate students in the activity"
    Teresa Pereira, Monitor
  • "This initiative has the potential to promote interdisciplinary work and the practice of theoretical contents. Constant dialogue and clear establishment of goals and objectives are key for its successful implementation."
    João Correia, MEM 4th Year Delegate
  • "Since I joined IST, I have always expected to be able to apply the strong theoretical component acquired to real and practical problems, outside the purely academic context. In this sense, the work I have been doing at Hands-on Polymers has been the best experience so far. Working with a multidisciplinary team has been essential to analyze the same problem from different perspectives, thus allowing a more comprehensive view of it and obtaining more consistent solutions. The preparation of classes and demonstrations to students was also a new experience that allowed working on the communication of ideas and content in order to motivate students to approach the concepts in the lab context."
    António Cardoso, Monitor

Partnerships