"Plastic - irreplaceable or an environmental burden?"

The aim of the video challenge "Plastics - irreplaceable or environmental burden" was to encourage young people to take a closer look at the topic of plastics and to show them the importance of their role in dealing with and developing this material into innovative and sustainable solutions.

An expert jury consisting of Prof. Dr.-Ing. Hans-Peter Heim, Head of the Department of Plastics Technology and Chairman of the Board of the Association Innovationszentrum Kunststofftechnik e.V., Deputy Chairman Prof. Dr.-Ing.Friedhelm Pracht, owner of the prachtgroup group of companies, Dr. Thorsten Siodla, long-standing Vice President and now project employee at Technoform Caprano + Brunnhofer GmbH, as well as scientific staff and students from the department and, most recently, external observers from the field of science communication, had the difficult task of selecting three from the numerous entries submitted in order to award the creative minds behind them.

1st place went to Lina Jin (16) and Elias Volodin (16) with their video "Plastik (un-)ersetzlich?". They addressed the topics of environmental pollution caused by plastic, avoidance strategies and recycling in a realistic and creative way, but also illustrated the irreplaceability of the material using the example of bicycle helmets. They received a special prize for their contribution: a youth trip to Sri Lanka to help preserve the livelihoods of turtles in a volunteer project.

For second place, the jury selected the animation "Plastic" by Hejar Hussein (18), which traced the recycling process of plastic in an artistic and innovative way. She was given the opportunity to take part in a multi-day excursion to Hamburg with students from the Plastics Technology department. Third prize went to Henrik Muth (18) and Adrian Gherescu (17) for their video "From plastic waste to 3D printing material", in which they looked over their shoulders as they used the plastic from a bag in a 3D printer to create a new product. As a prize, the department invited them to an experience day at the Institute of Materials Engineering.

The jury awarded a special prize to Lavinia Thiesmeier and Alina Sali for their contribution "Environment to know", a mock expert interview in which they critically examine the effects of plastic on the environment, accompanied by impressive images. Together with Ms. Hussein, they are invited on an excursion to Hamburg.

Information on the video challenge and video contributions from the award winners here:
www.uni-kassel.de/go/videochallengekunststoff