During our research, we utilized various forms of digital assistance.
Storyboard and most documentary images were created by “Quill”, Chat-GPT with specific guidelines and images of ourselves for an accurate and personal touch.
OpenAI. “ChatGPT Logo.” Accessed December 1, 2025. https://openai.com/chatgpt
Digital recording and other equipment for the recording of the documentary we utilized the UMW Digital Knowledge Center, along with personally owned equipment.
Post production of the documentary we used PowerDirector-365 as our video and audio editing, as well as the final production of the video.
Annotated Bibliography
Primary Sources
- McIntire, Otis Ray. Foam Polystyrene and Method of Making Same. U.S. Patent 2,450,436. Filed December 14, 1944, and issued October 5, 1948.
– The original patent for foam polystyrene, documenting McIntire’s process and Dow’s ownership of Styrofoam. - Dow Chemical Company. Styrofoam™ Brand Insulation Advertisements, 1940s–1950s. Various print ads.
– Early advertisements that promoted Styrofoam as modern and practical, revealing how Dow shaped consumer adoption.
Secondary Sources (Scholarly and Peer-Reviewed)
- Staudinger, Hermann. “Über Polymerisation.” Berichte der Deutschen Chemischen Gesellschaft 55, no. 6 (1922): 1073–1085.
– Foundational article introducing polymer theory, crucial for understanding the chemistry behind polystyrene. - Science History Institute. “Styrofoam, a Practical and Problematic Creation.” Science History Institute, April 27, 2020. https://www.sciencehistory.org/stories/magazine/styrofoam-a-practical-and-problematic-creation.
– Overview of Styrofoam’s invention and cultural legacy, emphasizing its dual role as both useful and problematic. - Grand View Research. “Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) Market Size, Share & Trends Report, 2024–2033.” Grand View Research, 2024.
– Market analysis providing data on the economic scale and growth projections of polystyrene. - Lane, Kris. The Environmental History of Plastics: Technology, Culture, and Sustainability. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2019.
– Scholarly study placing polystyrene within the broader history of plastics and environmental debates. - Andrady, Anthony L. Plastics and the Environment. Hoboken: John Wiley & Sons, 2003.
– Examines plastics’ environmental effects, with sections on polystyrene and its contribution to microplastics. - Meikle, Jeffrey L. American Plastic: A Cultural History. New Brunswick: Rutgers University Press, 1995.
– Classic cultural history of plastics, useful for contextualizing Styrofoam in mid-century American life.
Additional Sources (Industry, Environmental, and Military Applications)
- “Why Is Styrofoam Still a Popular Packaging Material?” Custom Designs Boxes Blog. Accessed September 2025. https://customdesignsboxes.com/blog/why-is-styrofoam-still-a-popular-packaging-material.
– Industry-oriented article explaining why Styrofoam remains widely used in packaging. - Alta Max LLC. “Packaging Foam: A Military Essential.” Altamax.net. Accessed September 2025. https://www.altamax.net/packaging-foam-a-military-essential.
– Details military applications of foam in helmets, armor, and packaging. - Beyond Plastics. “Fact Sheet: Polystyrene.” BeyondPlastics.org. Accessed September 2025. https://www.beyondplastics.org/fact-sheets/polystyrene.
– Advocacy source summarizing environmental and health concerns with polystyrene. - Environment America. “The Problem with Polystyrene Foam.” Environment America – Oregon Campaigns. Accessed September 2025. https://environmentamerica.org/oregon/articles/problem-polystyrene-foam.
– Outlines health risks and environmental impacts, supporting regulatory debates. - Sustainable Business Magazine. “Is Styrofoam Toxic or Safe? Understanding the Hazards of Polystyrene.” Sustainable Business Magazine, 2024. https://sustainablebusinessmagazine.net/eco-review/is-styrofoam-toxic-or-safe-understanding-the-hazards-of-polystyrene.
– Examines toxicological concerns about styrene exposure in polystyrene. - NASA. “Foam and Cork Insulation Protects Deep Space Rocket from Fire and Ice.” NASA.gov, November 2018. https://www.nasa.gov/missions/artemis/orion/foam-and-cork-insulation-protects-deep-space-rocket-from-fire-and-ice/.
– Describes foam insulation in space exploration, highlighting advanced applications. - Bioprocess Online. “Mission Possible: Polystyrene Particles Facilitate Cellular Research in Space.” Bioprocess Online, March 2021. https://www.bioprocessonline.com/doc/mission-possible-polystyrene-particles-facili-0001.
– Details NASA’s use of polystyrene particles in microgravity biomedical research.