Litter Innovation Project

The college has received some funding to run a research project into encouraging people to pick up litter:

Why should I be involved?

This is an exciting opportunity to be part of making a difference, to play part in promoting sustainability and protecting our local environment - maybe even having a national impact if the project works: Imagine going to the apple app site and seeing an app you designed there for everyone to download! Come along and meet new people and have some fun!

Who can be involved?

We will welcome students from any curriculum background who think they may like to work on this and are looking particularly for those who:

• have an interest and enthusiasm in the project
• are keen to understand the life cycle and environmental impact of materials of every day objects.
• wish to be part of something to reduce negative environmental impact
• would like to make a difference for the better
• evidence to future employers/ UCAS that they can work well with others, research and test an idea, develop effective solutions to global problems.
• wish to enter for a Crest Award and want to use this as their topic of investigation.

What exactly is the project?

The plan is to work with learners who are interested (They could put it towards a Gold Crest Award if they wished to as well as work experience), to essentially create an app that is attractive to young and old people alike, that ‘rates’ litter. For example, if you were to spot a crisp packet on the ground, you would scan in ‘crisp packet’, and the app would tell you the product life-cycle, the ‘ingredients’ and resources in a crisp packet, how long it will take to decompose and its (negative) impact on wildlife if left where it is (i.e in a hedge). The person then picks up the crisp packet and places it in a recycling bin/normal bin – and the app rates you, based upon how ‘toxic’ the litter was that you have now removed. Therefore reinforcing everyone as part of the wider environment and scoring you as to how much positive impact you have had – positive reinforcement.

People could tally their positive impact scores over a week/month/year.

The app would relate to the three pillars of sustainability and in Devon would also rate litter in financial terms, i.e negative impact it has on tourism and availability of local jobs.

This app project would help address the growing litter problem as well as educate.

We are keen to work with others, maybe primary and secondary school children to help test the app and collect data to measure its effectiveness, so will be going out of college to test the app and visit local schools.

Do I have to know about computers and how to build an app?

No, we would find someone who knows how to do this. The project will be creating the information to go into the app, designing what it would look like and then trialling it on groups of people and taking note of their feedback. We would then try to take on board their feedback, change to improve our product, and then test it again until we have a prototype we are happy with.

What would my level of involvement be?

You could be a casual member offering the time and resources that you can, by agreement at the beginning of the year, or take it on as a work experience project. If you wish to take it on as a work experience project please see work experience page on this website. If you wish to take it on as your Crest Award project then go to Crest award page and follow the instructions on how to apply.

Whatever capacity you wish to involve yourself we would expect you to :

• commit to seeing the project through, fitting it around your other commitments,
• complete any task or action you have agreed to undertake

If interested and want to find out more click on work experience page and complete the form or email any queries to STEM@Petroc.ac.uk - or just come long to the first meeting: Thursday 9th October 12.30-14.30 AT 12.30 in A122a - if you cant make it, email through and we shall arrange a better time for you.