Fifteen 8th graders from KIPP West Philadelphia are learning how to build bio-plastics at the Department of Making + Doing this spring. It’s part of a nine-week University City Science Center program called “Polymer Play.”

The students will also experiment with tools including vacuum seals, laser cutters and power tools at the makerspace that’s housed at the Science Center, according to a release. Backed by a Cognizant grant, the program is being taught by Danielle Stollak, the Science Center’s STEAM Initiatives program manager. The grant will fund two more sessions of the program.