Sustainable Materials and Manufacturing
September 2025

Northumbria University is proud to offer Sustainable Materials and Manufacturing CPD courses delivered in partnership with the North East Combined Authority (NECA).

Course overview

This course will enable participants to update and broaden their skills to be part of the revolution in sustainable chemistry and materials manufacturing, a sector which already has a significant presence in the North of Tyne area.

The online content will provide learning opportunities which will enable participants to provide expertise and leadership in the areas of chemicals/polymer science and materials science that enables them to:

1. evaluate, rank and recommend new and existing technologies/chemistries in terms of their performance and sustainability
2. predict and model operations or outcomes of a chemical/materials process
3. offer leadership in sustainability and relevant technical performance in interdisciplinary discussions internally within their workplace or externally interfacing with their clients and communities

Polymers and Formulation

This module will enable participants to update and deepen their skills to engage with the science and commercial applications of polymers, a class of materials that underpin sectors from packaging and automotive to energy, construction and healthcare.

The online content will provide learning opportunities which will enable participants to provide expertise and leadership in polymer science, technology, and sustainability, equipping them to:

1. Understand polymer fundamentals – nomenclature, structure, synthesis, and the distinction between thermoplastics and thermosets, including implications for recyclability and end-of-life.
2. Evaluate and formulate reactive polymer systems – design and control of crosslinking, catalysts, latency, and workability vs. performance trade-offs, with applications in coatings, adhesives, composites, and sealants.
3. Assess sustainability and carbon footprint – analyse the embedded carbon dioxide of polymers across their life cycle, distinguish Scope 1–3 emissions, and integrate carbon as a design constraint alongside performance and cost.
4. Apply polymers in real-world engineering contexts – match material choice to application (paints, composites, adhesives, elastomers, packaging), considering behaviour above and below the glass transition temperature.
5. Lead in polymer-related discussions and decisions – communicate technical and sustainability considerations across disciplines, within their organisations, and externally with clients, stakeholders, and communities.

Data Science

This module provides an introduction for chemists and chemistry users working in materials and manufacturing to the field of data science. 

The module content is designed to show you how to use data science tools without having to be a proficient programmer, The Python code used in this module is substantially pre-written with no programming knowledge required and is available to use in an online Python environment.

The module is designed to give an understanding of what data is needed to effectively use the new data tools, then how it can be prepared and analysed, and finally how your findings can be disseminated using state of the art visualisation.  For example, it includes an overview into the use of machine learning techniques for more powerful regression and classification.  It also teaches how to use neural networks and the latest AI tools in the work place. 

Virtual Simulation of Materials

This module will introduce participants to the concepts of molecular simulation and analysis via a “citizen science” approach, without the requirement of prior coding knowledge. Users will be able to construct a polymeric molecule using a graphical interface, select conditions for running a simulation, run the simulation on a university server, and carry out analysis of the simulation’s findings once it is complete. Every user contribution will help to build a database of chemical structures and conditions, along with their simulated properties, building knowledge about these sorts of structures and creating a system which can compare each user’s results with those generated by others, and hence help users learn the power of virtual simulation 

To register your interest and book your place on the course, please follow this link.