Halmos Partners with Montachem International to Explore Global Plastics

From left, Isabelly Verissimo (Behavioral Neuroscience and Pre-Med), Jerry Murcia, CEO Montachem International Inc., Eve Fatout (Education). C. Avila, COO Montachem International Inc., Valeska Ribeiro Antunes (Political Science).

This past fall semester, the Department of Humanities and Politics (DHP) in the Halmos College of Arts and Sciences and Guy Harvey Oceanographic Research Center, partnered with Montachem International Inc. on a case competition exercise titled “Global Issues, Student Solutions.” Montachem is a leader in the distribution of thermoplastics and plastic resins to producers around the world and the initiative provided an opportunity for undergraduate students at NSU to avail of insight and expertise from Montachem personnel while exploring the role of plastics in the modern world.  “Global Issues, Student Solutions” ran as a case competition in a section of INST 1500, Global Issues, the introductory survey course in the B.A. in International Studies program.  Under the direction of course instructor  Ransford Edwards, Ph.D., students engaged in research projects addressing the challenges posed by the completing costs and benefits of global plastic usage.  Based on a review of their work by a faculty panel and feedback from officials at Montachem, three students were recognized at a recent luncheon hosted by DHP. Each student is the recipient of a cash award funded by a generous gift from Montachem International.

“We are very proud of our association with NSU on the ‘Global Issues, Global Solutions’ plastics challenge project in 2021,” said J.C. Avila, COO of Montachem International. “Waste in general, and plastics’ waste in particular, are serious issues that seem to require a philosophical change, we humans need to think differently about the waste we generate every day and how we deal with it. The work presented by the students after understanding the depth of this challenge is very encouraging as they presented interesting solutions and ideas but most importantly demonstrated the need to bring this subject up for discussion at all levels in our society to start finding solutions.”

Montachem CEO Jerry Murcia added, “Plastic waste mismanagement has created a global ecological crisis that needs to be addressed by adopting environmentally minded and balanced solutions. Montachem is proud to have supported this project, which in turn has raised awareness of this ongoing problem.  The creative solutions presented by NSU students move us towards a circular economy where intentional business decisions encompass the importance of social justice and positive environmental impact.” Both Montachem and the DHP look forward to continuing their partnership, engaging students in addressing this important challenge.

“My biggest take-away from my research is that there are many ways in which we can help alleviate our climate crisis; we just need to agree on a plan,” said competition winner Eve Fatout, a junior Education major.Joint runner up Valeska Antunes, a sophomore political science major, noted, “I dedicated myself to this project because I saw it as an opportunity to do something meaningful while in college.” The other runner up, Isabelly Verissimo, a sophomore Behavioral Neuroscience major, who recently represented her home country of Brazil at the Global Peace Summit in Turkey, said that part of the reason she took the Global Issues class was so that she could explore issues such as this one that fall at the intersection of science and public policy.

Posted 02/28/22

Halmos Partners with Montachem to Explore Global Plastics

This coming fall, the Department of Humanities and Politics in the Halmos College of Arts and Sciences and Guy Harvey Oceanographic Research Center will launch a new experiential opportunity for students in partnership with Montachem International Inc.  Montachem is a leader in the distribution of thermoplastics and plastic resins to producers around the world. 

The “Global Issues, Student Solutions” initiative will provide an opportunity for undergraduate students at NSU to explore the role of plastics in the modern world, develop an understanding of the challenges posed by plastics pollution, and provide solutions that might be implemented in individual communities around the world.  “Global Issues, Student Solutions” will run as a case competition in a section of Global Issues, the introductory survey course in the B.A. in International Studies program.

Students in this course will have the opportunity to engage in a team research project on plastics as a global issue and the results of this research will be disseminated at the end of the semester.  Montachem International will provide insight and access to resources for the student teams working on this challenge, in addition to making a generous donation to support undergraduate research in the DHP.

“Plastics are essential to everyday life around the world, these materials are used in simple and very complex applications from can liners (trash bags) all the way to interior components in airplanes to medical instruments and even body parts” according to J. C. Avila, Chief Operating Officer of Montachem International.

According to Ransford Edwards, Ph.D., assistant professor in DHP and instructor for Global Issues, the section in which the “Global Issues, Student Solutions” case competition will take place, “tackling global issues often starts with local solutions.”  He notes that “this problem-solving course will tap into the curiosity and ingenuity of our students as we explore aspects of sustainable development. Students will have an opportunity to investigate, get a little hands-on, and collaborate with a variety of stakeholders to address this issue related to our use of plastics.”

NSU Humanities Students Tackle the Problem with Plastics

From left, David Kilroy (Chair, Department of Humanities and Politics), Jared DeRosa, Christophe Godbarge, J.C. Avila (C.O.O., Montachem International, Inc.), Aidan Kunju, Hailee Delgado, Amanda Furiasse (Assistant Professor of Humanities, Marlisa Santos, professor and director, Center for Applied Humanities) at the IN-SIGHT showcase event.

While younger generations may prioritize climate change and plastic waste reduction in their beliefs, they are less likely to recycle than older generations, according to findings in a research study done by Nova Southeastern University students.

A small group of students began a collaboration in 2022 with Montachem International, following the company’s sponsorship of a case competition for NSU’s INST 1500 Global Issues course. Students in that class were invited to do a research project on global plastic use and waste, and three winners were selected based on a faculty panel decision. The three winners were then invited to present to Chief Operating Officer J.C. Avila and his colleagues from Montachem.

Seven students have participated over the past two years in the IN-SIGHT program, an undergraduate think tank that works with businesses and community organizations.

“Montachem’s enthusiasm for that first iteration of the case competition then translated into their support for the think tank,” said Marlisa Santos, Ph.D., director for NSU’s Center for Applied Humanities.

Montachem has been serving the plastics industry since 1988, distributing a line of thermoplastic resins and related additives to plastics’ converters around the globe. Realizing the potential negative impact of plastic distribution, Montachem is exploring approaches to incentivize recycling efforts.

From left, IN-SIGHT fellows Christophe Godbarge, Aidan Kunju, Hailee Delgado Jared DeRosa

The students were 2022-23 IN-SIGHT Fellows Jared DeRosa, Hailee Delgado, Christophe Godbarge and Aidan Kunju and 2023-24 IN-SIGHT Fellows Jared DeRosa, Savannah Delano, Alexis Lass and Charlotte Opris. The groups have worked under the direction of NSU Assistant Professor Amanda Furiasse, in the Center for Applied Humanities.

As part of their project with Montachem, the students did research and produced an in-depth report on a topic that presents a problem and provides a solution.

“The IN-SIGHT fellowship vividly demonstrates the humanities’ unique capacity to embrace diverse perspectives and leverage the inherent creativity of the human spirit, paving the way for sustainable solutions that resonate beyond academia,” Furiasse said.

Among some of the findings of the group uncovered were:

  • Younger people may be more likely to be influenced by social media, which can amplify the appearance of sustainability but may not necessarily translate into practical action.
  • With plastic waste already a major problem worldwide, this trend among younger generations is concerning because it suggests future efforts to address the issue will be hindered by a lack of engagement and participation from those who will soon be responsible for managing waste.

Jared DeRosa and Aidan Kunju assist in a beach cleanup.

The students’ concluded not all plastic products can be recycled with present technologies. Recycling requires significant investment in infrastructure and technology, and while recycling may reduce plastic waste it may not necessarily reduce the environmental impact of plastic production and use because of greenhouse gases recycling produces.

After the students’ presentation, the Montachem asked them to expand on their research. While this is their first client, Santos is optimistic there will be others in the future.

“The IN-SIGHT program demonstrates not only how relevant the humanities are in addressing real-world problems,” she said, “but also how imperative it is to seek perspectives from these disciplines, as they provide critical vision in improving our communities.”