POLYMER SOCIETY ANNUAL REPORT 2012
- Introduction
This is the sixth annual report of the Polymer Society since the technical division title change under the federalisation approach within IOM3. The report format is based on the template required for the ITPB (Industry and Technology Policy Board).
Members currently expressing an interest in polymers in their member’s profile on the website are around 1300 with a sound base of members maintaining an interest in our PVC, Rubber in Engineering and Polymer Processing and Engineering technical communities.
The Polymer Society and RIEG micro sitescontinue to be established within the top 10 of those of the technical communities.
- Board membership
Dr Alan Wood of Victrex became Board Vice Chair in anticipation of Mr Stuart Patrick completing his second 4 year term as Chair in 2014.
We welcomed two new members viz Ms Karen Hately, SPE and WISE Education Campaign, Reading University and Dr Ian Robinson, Lucite Technologies.
Board membership has consequently increased to 19 but some resignations are anticipated due to work pressures.
Dr Matthew Thornton continues to give solid support despite his many other roles within IOM3 and the Materials KTN
- Board meetings
We continued to have three meetings in the year at different locations but active participation has declined.
- 7th February at IOM3 London – 47% attendance
- 14th June at Bradford University – 28% attendance
- 10th October at Victrex plc – 47% attendance
As the June meeting attendance was particularly poor we will aim to hold the June 2013 meeting via Skype/Webinar togenerate more participation. Failing this, we will probably drop the midyear meeting.
- Activities during 2012
- Technical programme
The Rubber in Engineering Group continued to organise a very successful programme consisting of a factory visit, Afternoon Technical Discussion Meetings and, in particular, an extremely successful two day conference in December where the 2011 Colwyn Medal winner also delivered the Rubber Foundation Lecture.
An excellent 2013 programme is also being planned.
Organisation of PVC 2014 has also commenced the active involvement of the IOM3 Conference, Marketing and Publicity departments.
Our 2013 programme can be accessed via the website
4.2.Web-site developments
Both the RIEG and Polymer Society have maintained their ‘top ten’ position within the technical communities’ league table over the year with regular News Items, conference information and incremental updates.
4.3.Engagement with technical community and/or local societies
Two Newsletters were again distributed to ~ 1300 members who have agreed to be contacted by email.
A stand, in conjunction with the Materials KTN Polymer Sector, at the annual PDM (Plastics Design and Moulding) exhibition in London was also manned.
Ongoing engagement is also maintained via meetings, conferences and Materials KTN – Polymer Sector events/webinars.
Contact with local societies is ad-hoc but ongoing. The Polymer Society Chairman also delivered his ‘Plastics Sustainability’ lecture to the SPRA in March.
4.4.Contributions to IoM3 house journals
Materials World
Directly via the Board, one article and two house news items were supplied. This topic is also regularly covered in our Board meetings.
PRC: ME
Plastics Rubber and Composites achieved an impact factor of 0.589 in the 2011 Journal of Citation Reports (JCR) published by Thomson Reuters. This exceeds our 2010 result of 0.374. The total number of citations received in 2011 to all years of the journal also increased. This is a significant improvement on last year’s result and we hope a continuing trend.
(The impact factor is calculated by the number of cites in the impact factor year to citatable articles (research articles, reviews and letters to the editor) published in the preceding two years).
Contents etc are now being circulated to Polymer Society Board members for onward promotion.
4.5.Reciprocal membership with SPE
There has finally been some progress in that we are at the point of exchanging with SPE a reduced list of 50 names of members that have expressed an interest in becoming members of IOM3, and who are willing to be approached. The target date for a hand over of membership details is January 2013 and once this is completed there will be an emphasis on the Polymer Society to ensure that these members see the benefit of IOM3 membership.
3.6. Division Costs
Without reference to relevant income from members, conferences etc, the Society costs for 2011are now available (excluding voluntary time and sponsorship and support of the Student Design Innovation in Plastics Award). The bulk of the costs wereattributed to staff support and meeting costs. See later for 2013 objectives.
3.7.Materials KTN
The strategic involvement with the TSB via the Mat KTN-Polymer Sector continues with the Scientific Advisory Committee, based on Polymer Society Board members, advising the Materials KTN Polymer Sector Advisory Board in terms of work packages. The Polymer SectorAdvisory Board Chair also sits on the Polymer Society Board.
3.8.Awards
The Board is now working to publicise our polymer related awards around the sector. The 2012 Awards (Hancock, Swinburne, James S Walker and Alan Glanvill) can be noted at
The 2011 Prince Philip Award to Biocompatibles UK was also presented in the year and was followed by a lunch at Carlton House Terrace.
3.9. IOM3 Sustainability Policy and Implementation
The policy and implication discussions at SDG are regularly covered in the Board’s meetings.
- Strategy and Objectives for 2013
4.1Opportunities and constraints
Within the limitation of staff and voluntary time constraints, the Society continues to have objectives based on a Rolling 12 Months Programme using Key Performance Indicators based on members declaring an interest in Polymers, PVC, Rubber and/or Polymer Processing and Engineering (PPE) in their profile. Over the year these figures remained similar (but did not decrease). Against these numbers we aim to carry out crude and approximate Cost Benefit Analysis.
4.2Specific targets to maintain, upgrade and recruit members
-Website – Maintain and improve ranking in table by generation of News items and regular updating.
-Materials World – Continue to generate relevant articles for general interest and promote benefits of membership.
-Newsletter – Continue to issue a minimum of two in the year.
-Society Costs – continue to monitor cost benefit.
-Polymer Exhibit – Generate a dynamic display for 1CHT and Grantham.
-SPE Reciprocal Membership – Follow up the exchange of members and assist Membership to promote Institute membership.
-PRC: ME Journal – Promote the journal through the Board’s contacts etc.
- Other matters
-Educational Initiative with RIBA
The final year of IOM3 sponsorship of the RIBA Student Architecture Presidents Medal Awards, in conjunction with the BPF (British Plastics Federation), Corus and Pilkington, tohighlight the benefits of using polymers, steel and glass for Building and Architectural Design,resulted in having to bring in students from the Bartlett School of Architecture to ensure decent numbers for the plant visits.
Discussions are continuing as to possible future sponsorship possibilities with RIBA and/or the Bartlett.
-Student Design Innovation in Plastics (DIP)
The Worshipful Company of Horners and IOM3 continue to jointly sponsorthe DIP Award with the focus of encouraging plastics design innovation and best practice in future product designers in the UK and Ireland.
The theme of the 2012 competition was Universal Design and the six finalists were selected from 92 entries submitted by 14 universities. The award ceremony continues to be hosted by IOM3 at 1 CHT with Bayer MaterialScience being the headline sponsor.
The Polymer Society is actively participating in the organising committee and maintenance of the dedicated website all entries are now submitted electronically using the Institute’s EventsForce software programme.
-Natural Materials Association
The Society is now represented in the IOM3 Core Group for the re-launch of this group. The NMA is intended to provide afocus for a diverse range of natural materials,
Stuart Patrick 23rd January 2013