Arts University Bournemouth opens £1.6m plastics research centre

Industry experts, academics and locals gathered at Arts University Bournemouth (AUB) last week for the launch of a new centre set to lead “groundbreaking research”.

PlastIC – the Plastics Innovation and Curation centre – brings together the design history expertise of the university’s Museum of Design in Plastics (MoDiP) with the capabilities of its Innovation Studio.

It’s been made possible by a £1.6 million grant awarded to AUB last year by Research England.

“This is where material culture meets innovation, where the past informs the future, and where heritage and sustainability come together,” said Prof Christian McLening, director of the centre and of research and development at AUB.

“At PlastIC, we’re exploring plastics in ways that matter – not just for today, but for generations to come.

“Our focus is on understanding how plastics behave, degrade and endure, while also providing critical insights to the heritage and manufacturing sectors.

“We have a fantastic team of experts now in place who are ready to innovate and collaborate.

“Our new materials lab is ready, equipped to test, identify and explore plastics in all their complexity, and the research has started.

“We’ve begun diving into key projects that will shape the future of plastics conservation and lifecycle design.

“From preserving artefacts to helping industries make smarter, more sustainable material choices, we’re tackling challenges that cross disciplines and borders.”

Among the attendees at last week’s launch was Connor Winter, founder of Circular11 – a Christchurch-based innovation hub that transforms waste-bound plastic into low-carbon fencing, furniture and landscaping products.

Connor said: “We’re thrilled to welcome the launch of PlastIC.

“We’ve already worked with AUB on many projects across different departments, but until now, we’ve had to partner with universities further afield for any polymer work.

“We’re building a world-first recycling technology with the mission to increase recycling rates globally, and we hope that through our partnership with AUB and PlastIC, we’ll be able to accelerate our technology and give students real world experience in tackling real world problems.”

Christian added: “We’re looking forward to connecting with partners, collaborators and those as passionate as we are about innovation and preservation.

“Whether you’re from the heritage sector, manufacturing or academia, there’s a place for you in this journey.

“Here’s to the exciting work ahead – together, we’ll create a better understanding of plastics and their role in our world!”