Details of Grant 

EPSRC Reference:	GR/R79920/01
Title:	PPA: A Competition to Design Marbles using Novel Materials
Principal Investigator:	Banks, Emeritus Research Professor WM
Other Investigators:	Pethrick, Professor RA
Researcher Co-Investigators:
Project Partners:	Glasgow Science Centre Ltd Heriot-Watt University Scottish Polymer Technology Network
Department:	Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
Organisation:	University of Strathclyde
Scheme:	PPE PreFEC
Starts:	01 September 2002	Ends:	31 August 2004	Value (£):	29,776
EPSRC Research Topic Classifications:
EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications:	Manufacturing
Related Grants:
Panel History:
Summary on Grant Application Form
The proposed project is a competition to design a marble in a novel material. It will increase public awareness of Materials Science and Engineering by building on the universal appeal of the marbles used in children's games which span culture, generations, language, gender and class. Childhood passions for marbles often transform into an adult passion for collecting beautiful antique and contemporary marbles, both through the aesthetic appeal and practical capabilities of materials which will be featured in this project.Materials researchers will be invited to design marbles made from the material(s) they research. Designs will be submitted with a rationale explaining the scientific research basis of the design together with the materials used and their applications. Local schools (covering a range of social and age backgrounds) and industrial companies with significant materials aspects to their business will be invited to participate in separate competition categories. Entries will be particularly encouraged from researchers working on novel materials such as polymeric hydrogels, glass and natural fibre composites, light-emitting polymers, novel technical textiles, ceramics and metallic foams (all of which are currently active research areas in the partnering institutions).The marbles submitted will be judged by a panel which will include a professional science communicator, representatives of professional or industrial bodies, lay members of the public, school children, a science teacher and a broad based materials science professional. The winning entries will be incorporated into a professionally produced interactive display at the Glasgow Science Centre (GSC) and will be featured on their website. The winning entries will also be published in the SPTN website at www.polymemetwork.org.uk.
Key Findings
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Potential use in non-academic contexts
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Impacts
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Sectors submitted by the Researcher
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Project URL:
Further Information:
Organisation Website:	http://www.strath.ac.uk