The second life of plastic waste

On the occasion of the commemoration of World Environment Day, the URJC organizes the activity 'My trash is worth its weight in gold!', consisting of scientific workshops in schools in the Community of Madrid to disseminate science in an interactive and entertaining way. ESO and Baccalaureate students will actively participate in the recycling of plastic waste, contributing to its proper management.

Irene Vega

La Scientific Culture and Innovation Unit (UCC+I) coordinates the activity 'My rubbish is worth its weight in gold!', a program of informative workshops with the aim of making ESO and Baccalaureate students aware of the material and energetic value of plastic waste. To carry out this activity, we will have the collaboration of Dr. Martha Munoz Hernandez, a researcher in the area of Materials Science and Metallurgical Engineering at the URJC, who will attend the Virgen de Europa School in Boadilla del Monte on Tuesday, May 31, to show students how the different types of plastic waste are classified. In addition, she will help you identify the composition of plastics used in everyday objects, such as high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and polystyrene (PS), and will perform a simulation of a plastics treatment plant.

'My trash is worth its weight in gold!' is part of the programResearchers at Schools”, which aims to bring the work of the scientific community closer to the students of educational centers in the Community of Madrid. The first activity took place on May 9, on the occasion of the celebration of Europe Day, and this second activity is part of the commemorations of World Environment Day (June 5).

The prelude to the European Night of Researchers

The activities "Researchers at Schools” are part of the program of the European Researchers' Night (MADRID NIGHT) and aim to promote scientific culture in society in general and promote scientific-technological vocations among young people.

MADRID NIGHT is a scientific dissemination project, coordinated by the madri+d Foundation and financed by the European Union within the Horizon Europe Program, under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie actions (with grant agreement no. 101061343). The Rey Juan Carlos University is a member of this European consortium and the organization of the activities, within the framework of this project, is coordinated by UCC+I, dependent on the Vice President for Research. Likewise, the activities of the UCC+I also have the collaboration of the Spanish Foundation for Science and Technology (FECYT) – Ministry of Science and Innovation.