Warwick Polymer Group
Our Vision
The Warwick Polymer Group (WPG) brings together scientists and engineers at Warwick who have wide expertise in the education and research of one of the most widely debated materials of the 21st century: polymers.
Whereas polymers were hailed as wonder materials in the 1920s-1980s, these macromolecular materials have become a victim of their success two-fold: (1) Most of the synthetic polymers are made from a petrochemical feedstock, and (2) what to do with polymers at the end of a products life?
The UN Sustainable Development Goals and the Planetary Boundaries make one thing clear, if we want our planet and us to survive. We have to make a radical change in how we manufacture, use, and value products that contain polymers.
The Warwick Cross Faculty Plastics Group is a broader STEM+ group of people from across the science, arts, and humanities disciplines.
You can contact us by email:
plastics warwick.ac.uk
Our Goals
The Warwick Polymer Group (WPG) has the aim to provide answers to this and has two ambitious goals:
"Make plastics environmentally sustainable"
"Educate and train transdisciplinary with a STEM+ approach"
Study With Us
If you want to be at the forefront in making plastics environmentally sustainable and caring for our planet, join us.
The University of Warwick provides an exciting variety of taught (PGT) and research (PGR) postgraduate opportunities in the areas of polymer science and engineering, and global decarbonisation and climate change.
Our transdisciplinary STEM+ approach will train you to become part of a generation of creative, critical, independent and accountable intellectual risk takers. You will be equipped to serve wider society and provide global leadership and innovation in tackling future environmental and sustainability challenges.
Taught Courses
Take a look at the range of Postgraduate Taught (PGT) courses available and follow the links to find out more.
Meet the Team
The Warwick Polymer Group's scientists and engineers are among the most influential in the world, with many listed in the recent World’s Top 2% Scientists by Stanford University. Polymer Science and Engineering is one of Warwick University’s main global success stories. IUPAC has chosen Warwick to host the 50th World Polymer Congress (https://macro2024.org), the world’s most prominent (~1200 people) meeting dedicated to all aspects of polymer science and engineering.
Warwick has a > 25-year track record in world-leading polymer research and training, in close partnership with industry and other external bodies. Highly relevant research technology platformsLink opens in a new window (RTPs) support people, facilities and equipment in an impressive “all within a short walk” campus-based academic setting.
Polymer Science and Engineering at Warwick are further supported by the wider Warwick Cross Faculty Plastics Group, a STEM+ initiative that is truly multidisciplinary and includes researchers from Chemistry, Physics, Engineering, School of Life Sciences, the Polymer Characterisation Research Technology Platform, Sociology, Warwick Business School, Warwick Mathematics Institute, Warwick Manufacturing Group, the Warwick Medical School, Statistics, the Centre for Advanced Studies, the Centre for Interdisciplinary Methodologies, English and Comparative Literary Studies, the School of Cross-Faculty Studies, Global Sustainable Development, and the School of Creative Arts, Performance, and Visual Cultures.
Warwick University Students and Staff
We at WPG offer a range of opportunities to join our community, learn about polymer science and engineering, and participate in exciting research.
Check out extracurricular activities, such as Monomer Mondays, Polymer Café, or Polymer Pints. More info on that is below and on our Education pages.
As a science undergraduate student, you can join one of our research teams in your free time. Explore the variety of research teams and discuss opportunities directly with the team leader.
You can take one or more of our modules for credits toward your degree.
INTERNAL EVENT ONLY
Monomer Mondays
This is our research talks program, which runs on Mondays from 16:00. Want to know the latest in polymer science and engineering? Be at WPG's Monomer Mondays to start your week with excitement.
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INTERNAL EVENT ONLY
Polymer Café
This is our extracurricular educational program, which runs on Tuesdays from 17:00 during term time in the Wolfson Research ExchangeLink opens in a new window. Love polymer science and engineering? Come to WPG's Polymer Café to learn more.
Hermann Staudinger: foundation of polymer science
INTERNAL EVENT ONLY
Polymer Pints
This is our social event, which runs on Fridays from 17:00 onwards in the Dirty Duck at the Students' Union of the University of Warwick. This is your chance to meet up with your favorite WPG people!
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In the Spotlight
MACRO2024 was the 50th IUPAC world polymer congress that we were asked to host on behalf of IUPAC. We had the pleasure of hosting this major event from 1-4 July 2024 at the University of Warwick. It brought together >1200 participants from 61 nations/6 continents. There were 600 scientific talks, 300 posters, 25 exhibitors, with > 15 poster and talks prizes. Macro2024's social events included a pub quiz night, karaoke night, pub crawl followed by a nightclub, football tournament, rounders tournament, Warwick/Kenilworth castles, Stratford-upon-Avon tour, 2 live rock bands, outdoor gala drinks, indoor gala dinner. We at WPG would like to thank everybody who attended!
