OSHER 319 - Plastics: Boon or Bane?

Since the early 1920's, "plastic" materials have become ubiquitous in societies all over the world. Yet few people know what plastics really are, where they come from, or even why they are used so much. Plastic waste has become a severe worldwide pollution problem. This course will introduce you to the main varieties of synthetic polymeric materials (that's "plastics" in science-talk). We will learn why and how they are used (including some surprises) and discuss why plastics pollution is such a problem and what might be done about it. You don't need to be a scientist to enjoy this course - in fact, the science part is really pretty simple - but here is a chance to learn something about materials you encounter every day but about which you almost certainly know very little.