Materials and our environment: striving for sustainability

This course introduces you to the multi-disciplinary confluence of materials, engineering, history and biology, to enable design of sustainable products. To inform material choices and product design philosophies, we will explore product life-cycles and circular economy approaches. Exploring material classes including natural materials, fibres and textiles, plastics and composites. We will explore applications in fashion and sport, building and construction, transportation and energy, packaging and health. We will reflect on how advancements in materials have led to unique opportunities – think timber skyscrapers – and presented new challenges – think the ocean plastic problem. This is a 10 session course and must be taken with W110Pm05 in week 1.

Typical week: Monday to Friday 

Courses run from Monday to Friday. For each week of study, you select a morning (Am) course and an afternoon (Pm) course. The maximum class size is 25 students.   

Courses are complemented by a series of daily plenary lectures, exploring new ideas in a wide range of disciplines. To add to your learning experience, we are also planning additional evening talks and events. 

Evaluation and Academic Credit  

If you are seeking to enhance your own study experience, or earn academic credit from your Cambridge Summer Programme studies at your home institution, you can submit written work for assessment for one or more of your courses.  

Essay questions are set and assessed against the University of Cambridge standard by your Course Director, a list of essay questions can be found in the Course Materials. Essays are submitted two weeks after the end of each course, so those studying for multiple weeks need to plan their time accordingly. There is an evaluation fee of £75 per essay. 

For more information about writing essays see Evaluation and Academic Credit. 

Certificate of attendance 

A certificate of attendance will be sent to you electronically after the programme.