Engineering students take a look at R&D/Leverage

Toolmaker R&D/Leverage was in the spotlight on Oct. 8 as a group of engineering students from a local high school toured the firm's facility in Lee's Summit, Mo.

The group of 45 students was from Olathe Northwest High School in Olathe, Kan. They're part of the school's Engineering Academy, an engineering-based curriculum that's been in place for 15 years. The school currently has 95 students in the program.

Engineering Academy students have been touring the R&D/Leverage site for 10 years. This year's event was part of National Manufacturing Day.

In an email to Plastics News, R&D/Leverage Global Marketing Director Robert Schiavone said that "what is very important — now more than ever — is to provide the education that high schools are not providing, which is information on the trades. And now more than ever we need that specifically for the plastics industry."

"What better way to help enlighten kids with the opportunity to understand the value of plastics and better yet, learn more about our industry and what we offer," he added.

The Olathe Northwest program combines science with engineering and CAD skills, according to Bruce Wellman, a teacher with the program.

"One of the challenges we face is negative feeling about plastics," he said in a phone interview. "But there are opportunities in the plastics industry for our students."

Wellman for many years has been involved in science, technology, engineering and mathematics education at the local, state and national levels. He also has served on review panels for the National Science Foundation and has presented at many regional and national science and engineering education conferences.

Regarding the R&D/Leverage tour, Wellman added that the plastics industry "has the opportunity to move into helping those negative opinions shift, if they get involved with science teachers and with the curriculum."

"Opinions can change when the industry becomes a partner in the education process," he said.

Jeff Cooper, quality assurance director at R&D/Leverage, added that "if we can get the students asking questions, we get to learn a little more about perceptions of people outside the industry."

For example, Cooper said, one student on the tour asked about bisphenol A in plastic.

"It's a legit question and a problem solved by resin manufacturers in the last few years," he added. "We know this because we live in the industry, [but] we sometimes forget that people outside it may not be as fluent on current events."

R&D/Leverage officials also emphasized during the tour that, when it comes to ocean plastic and the environment, plastics "are not the problem."

"How we dispose of and recycle our trash is the problem," Cooper said. "Some students were repeating it back to us. It's my opinion that the Olathe Northwest program has taught them well. They know that each individual has to take personal responsibility for buying decisions and disposal decisions.

"Our message was objective, logical and hopefully nonbiased," he added. "Eight-plus future industry leaders and influencers left with a more clear and positive perspective on the plastics industry."