o Describe the microplastic pollution problem.
o Discuss current approaches used to address the microplastic pollution problem.
Include a figure to highlight and illustrate the most important points in this section.
Specific Product-Related Problem:
Write single-spaced paragraphs to:
o Describe the product that you selected in terms of its important and/or significant
uses in our society.
o Define specifically and quantitatively the materials functions and properties
required for product design assessment.
o Describe how the product is produced.
o Discuss plausible mechanisms by which the product generates microplastics
Include a figure to highlight and illustrate the most important points in this section
Proposed Materials Solution:
Write single-spaced paragraphs to:
o Describe the idea.
o Explain how the idea would make the product generate less microplastics.
o Discuss specifically and quantitatively how the materials structure, properties,
and/or performance may be changed
Include a figure to highlight and/or illustrate the most important points in this section
Anticipated Challenges and Impact
Write single-spaced paragraphs to:
o Project and discuss the technical difficulties associated with implementing the
proposed idea.
o Project and discuss the economic and human behavioral issues associated with
implementing the proposed idea.
o Discuss how these issues may be addressed to realize the proposed idea.
o Summarize the anticipated impact of the proposed idea, provided that the
identified challenges can be addressed.
RUBRIC
Significance of Product:
• Is the polymer product interesting, useful, and/or important?
• Does the product contribute to microplastic pollution
in rivers and oceans? Are plausible mechanisms, by
which the product generates microplastics, described?
Quality and authenticity of Proposed Idea
• Is the proposed idea specific, well described, and
thought out?
• Does the proposed idea represent a novel solution to
the problem?
Required Materials Properties
• Are the materials properties required for product design
assessment specifically and quantitatively defined?
• Does the paper discuss how materials properties may
be influenced by the proposed idea?
Anticipated Challenges and Issues
• Does the report address how technical challenges could
be approached and overcome?
• Does the report address how economic and behavioral
issues could be approached and overcome?
Professionalism • Does the report use graphics and illustrations effectively?
• Does the report follow the instructions given in the
paper template (e.g., format, style, references, etc.)?
