Topics Covered

• Everyday biomaterials and their molecular properties.
• The molecular structure of wool and silk and how this has developed over the last century.
• The influence of natural materials on the development of man-made fibres.
• The potential uses of self-assembling peptides within the human body.
• The creation of hydrogels from self-assembling peptides.
• The development of synthetic spider silk.
• The future of bio-inspired materials.
• The creation of composite biomaterials that combine organic and inorganic components.
• Assignment: prepare a press release to communicate the science of ‘composite bio-inspired materials’.
• The science and environmental impact of everyday household products.
• The evolution of effective, safe and economical products.
• The use of surfactants in household products.
• The chemistry of hair dyes and how they are tested and regulated.
• The significance of the chemical industry.
• The complexity between scientific fact and public perception of consumer products.
• Parabens and the controversy that surrounds their use as preservatives.
• Construct a science writing text.
• Assignment: prepare a newspaper article about the controversy around the use of parabens.