Education in plastics

I propose to deal with this very wide subject in two stages: firstly, to discuss the ways in which it is possible to gain an education in plastics, and then to spend a short time considering whether or not this provides the right type of person for the plastics industry in general, and for those who make and use plastics pipes in particular.

Further, we should I think remember that the use of plastics pipes encompasses a number of disciplines. These include - to quote only from the conference brochure - architecture, chemical, civil and mechanical engineering, as well as building engineers, consultants and contractors. This means that although I am concerned here primarily to discuss education in plastics, we must always realise that neither the subject nor the material can exist in isolation. The subject should properly be taught, at least at the higher levels, against an interdisciplinary background. The material is only used because it really is the best for the particular application.

There are a large number of different routes to, and methods of, obtaining qualifications at all levels, and in order to put them into their proper perspective we must attempt first of all to define these levels in some way.