Breaking news! Chemistry club at FCH BUT: The life cycle of biopolymers – the future and a sensible approach to plastics

What might a plastic look like if it doesn’t come from oil, but for example from bacteria? How can it be used smartly? And what happens to it when it reaches the end of its life? These are exactly the kinds of questions explored by a new chemistry club for high school students, created at the Faculty of Chemistry of Brno University of Technology in cooperation with JCMM.

A path toward sustainable materials of the future

The Life Cycle of Biopolymers club introduces modern sustainable materials from production to recycling. It shows students that chemistry is not just about formulas, but about real materials that surround us and how to use them with less impact on nature.

From bacteria to a finished product

Enrolled students will gradually learn:

• how biotechnological production of PHA biopolymers using bacteria works,

• how these polymers are isolated and analyzed,

• how they are processed into fully functional bioplastics,

• what they can be used for and how their properties are tested,

• and what happens to them at the end of their life cycle.

The program also includes working with specialized methods from biotechnology and materials engineering in practice, such as producing filament and 3D printing.

When a material reaches the end of its life

An important topic of the club is the end-of-life stage of plastics. The program covers both recycling options and natural degradation, which distinguishes bioplastics from conventional petroleum-based plastics. Participants observe biodegradation processes and gain a concrete understanding of how a biomaterial can “disappear” back into the natural cycle.

Connecting research, education, and sustainability

The club was prepared by Ing. Přemysl Menčík, Ph.D. and Ing. Iva Buchtíková, Ph.D. It is designed as a complete series of eight thematic meetings, which together create a comprehensive view of biopolymers and sustainable materials.

This activity fits into the long-term focus of FCH BUT on sustainable solutions, modern materials, and responsible chemistry, while also showing how scientific knowledge can be made understandable and practically accessible to the younger generation.

Because the future of materials begins at the molecular level. And because #withoutchemistryitwontwork.

Registration takes place through JCMM