How to turn a discarded cell phone in a drawer into a scientific presentation topic

Urban mining is a concept that recovers metals contained in abandoned cell phones and home appliances instead of underground mines and uses them again as resources. Recycling of discarded smartphones is a topic often chosen in science exploration presentations by middle and high school students. The advantage is that it is easy to connect problems in daily life with science, and it is possible to come up with a variety of solution ideas.

In this article, when choosing waste smartphone recycling as a presentation topic, we will sequentially organize the current status, how to establish problems, and how to formulate solutions and expected effects.

Why are discarded smartphones a topic of inquiry?

Smartphones have a shorter replacement cycle than other home appliances, so it's easy for unused cell phones to pile up in drawers at home. However, cell phones contain metals such as gold, silver, and copper, as well as batteries, so if they are properly recovered, they become reusable resources. If it is abandoned or neglected, it can result in loss of resources and a burden on the environment. Therefore, discarded smartphones are considered a good research topic that can address both resource circulation and the environment.

If you want to use figures such as replacement cycle or recovery rate when announcing the current status, it is best to find the latest values directly from official data from the Ministry of Environment or related organizations and disclose them along with the source.

How do I recover the metal in my cell phone?

When recovering metal contained in a mobile phone board, different chemical properties are used for each metal. ionization tendency of metal, which compares the magnitude of the tendency for metals to lose electrons and become ions. Knowing this will help you understand which metals dissolve first in solution and which metals remain. If you briefly add these principles to your presentation, your recycling idea will have a scientific basis.

However, actual metal recovery is a process that requires specialized equipment, so it is safe to stop at explaining the principles in a presentation and not use it as an invitation to experiment directly.

이론 하나를 내 생활에 대입해 보면 금방 내 것이 되더라고요. 공부한 이론을 예시 하나로 설명해 보는 연습이 저한테는 도움이 됐어요.

Why is collection not working well?

To come up with a good solution, you must first clearly establish the cause of the problem. The reasons why the collection of used mobile phones is not successful are that there is little benefit to the individual even if they are handed over, and there are concerns that personal information such as stored photos and contact information may be recovered and leaked. If these two causes are clearly established, a solution direction will naturally emerge: a way to increase profits and a way to alleviate concerns.

In a presentation, it is easier for the audience to remember the cause if it is narrowed down to two causes, and it is better to pair it with the solution that follows.

How do I come up with a solution idea?

The solution can be divided into a method of reviving it at home before collection and a method of combining it with a new product. For example, you can come up with ideas such as collecting batteries and using them as an auxiliary battery or flashlight, attaching them to a bicycle with location and music functions, using them as a simple security camera using home Wi-Fi, or connecting them to IoT products such as flower pots or fish tank management. If you add the necessary functions and safety precautions to each idea, it seems likely that it will be realized.

A condition for a good presentation is to include a safety statement about not disassembling damaged batteries when it comes to ideas that deal with batteries.

How to write expected effects and presentation script?

It is clear that the expected effects can be divided into individuals and society, such as primary recycling at home, economic feasibility as a new resource, development of corporate technology, and changes in awareness of resource circulation. I like to write the script as if I were speaking in one or two sentences per slide, and ask a question on the first slide to grab the audience's attention. Campus-style discarded smartphone recycling presentation script is good for reference on how to write a presentation flow and research outline. You can change the case to fit your research topic and use it as a practice script. On the last slide, suggest one action the audience can take today.

When practicing your presentation, it is a good idea to include only one message per slide and separate what you will explain verbally and what you will show on the screen. If you prepare expected questions in advance, such as how do I erase personal information and is the battery safe, you will not be embarrassed during the Q&A.