Bakelite Associate Showcases Science at School STEM Event
NOBLESVILLE, Indiana – At Bakelite, we’re proud to be involved in our local communities through a variety of efforts, including those focused on education and inspiring future innovators.
Product Stewardship and Sustainability Specialist Justyne Willman recently had the opportunity to showcase some fun and impressive science to a group of kindergarten, first and second grade students at a STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) event at her children’s school.
Justyne explained what Bakelite does and what we produce as a company, and even brought some customers’ finished products to help the kids make the connection that Bakelite is a big part of their everyday lives. She also performed three different science experiments: the nylon rope experiment, which demonstrates phase separation and step-growth polymerization by pulling a “continuous” rope of nylon out of a jar from between the two phases; making oobleck, a mixture that demonstrates non-Newtonian fluids; and the orange fizz experiment, which explores the chemistry of acids and bases.
Justyne even had time to impress a group of eighth graders as she weighed chemicals in the school science lab. “One of the chemicals I was working with produces a ‘smoke,’ which caught their attention,” she says. “I did an impromptu ‘what is a polymer’ session and explained what the applications are.”
Justyne also underscored the importance of wearing the correct PPE and understanding safety pictograms that can warn students of danger. “It’s so important that they understand these basics, so that they can build a safe foundation for their future experimentation and education,” she says.
Interactions with local schools and students is an important part of Bakelite’s dedication to making a difference in our local communities and educating future generations. “I’m proud that Bakelite supports STEM in our children’s schools, and I encourage anyone who is interested in volunteering their time to do so,” says Justyne.
Read more on how we’re supporting our local communities.
