Our team focuses on a critical issue affecting our coastal community: plastic pollution in our oceans. As a beach city with around 30 beaches, we've witnessed firsthand the impact of microplastics on our fishing industry, tourism, and marine ecosystems. Our synthetic biology approach utilizes enzymes like MHETase and PETase to break down microplastics in our waters, targeting the problem at its source. Unlike traditional cleanup methods, our solution effectively addresses the challenge of well-dissolved microplastics that evade nets and beach cleanups. By developing enzymes capable of dissolving stored plastics before their release, we aim to prevent pollution proactively and uniquely.
Our outreach strategy centered on engaging today's youth - the future of our planet. We designed interactive experiments and informative booths to educate our community, particularly children, about the pressing issue of plastic pollution and our innovative solution. Through collaborations with local elementary schools, campus clubs, and community events, we are fostering a deeper understanding of the issue and inspiring future generations to take action in order to strengthen the connection between our research and its real-world impact.
Our project will benefit coastal communities worldwide, particularly those that rely on marine resources for their livelihoods, mainly fishermen and local residents. By addressing the pressing issue of microplastic pollution in oceans, our solution aims to improve the health of marine ecosystems and ensure safer seafood for consumers.
Our innovative enzymatic approach targets the problem at its source, breaking down plastics before they enter marine environments and accumulate in organisms. This strategy has the potential to significantly reduce microplastics in our oceans, addressing a critical gap in current pollution prevention efforts. The positive changes our project could bring include cleaner oceans and beaches, reduced plastic contamination in seafood, and economic and health benefits for communities dependent on marine resources. Studies have shown that humans ingest significant amounts of microplastics, with potential health risks including gastrointestinal damage, respiratory impairments, and even cancer. By focusing on prevention, we aim to create a more sustainable solution to plastic pollution and its associated health risks.
Ethical considerations were important to our project design as we recognized the potential risks associated with releasing genetically modified organisms into the environment. To address these concerns, we developed a controlled implementation strategy using bioreactors. This approach allows us to use the plastic-degrading power of our engineered enzymes without risking ecological disruption, ensuring responsible scientific practice and environmental safety.
At the ethics symposium, we had the opportunity to share our project with other high school iGEM teams from Rancho Bernardo, Canyon Crest Academy, and Del Norte High School. We received valuable feedback on our methodologies and future plans, especially as we work toward creating a plasmid and transferring it from E. coli to Alteromonas through conjugation. This dialogue with peers helped us refine our approach and consider alternative strategies.
In collaboration with Westview Catalyst For Success (WVC4S), a STEM volunteering club, we hosted educational outreach events, including a stand at Poway’s Farmers Market. There, we engaged over 50 attendees of various ages about the effects of ocean acidification, using seashells from a beach cleanup to demonstrate how vinegar dissolves their structures. We also met a sea level rise scientist from the Scripps Institution of Oceanography who was impressed with our project affecting local ocean issues and offered us key insights and relevant feedback on our project (aevawter@ucsd.edu).
We also consulted with our lab mentors, Dr. Garza and Dr. Macho, as well as other synthetic biology experts regarding our public microplastic survey, who gave us crucial feedback on microplastics and project design. Their insights helped us refine our survey for clarity and improve our understanding of the diverse impacts of microplastics. This input has significantly shaped our project, allowing us to enhance our mission to raise awareness and improve the health of San Diego’s oceans. Overall, the collaborative feedback we received has been instrumental in developing a well-rounded and impactful initiative.
Our public outreach activities were done through various interactive methods to make complex scientific concepts accessible to non-experts, especially children and families. One key outreach activity was our booth at our local Poway Farmers Market, where we conducted a hands-on science experiment demonstrating ocean acidification using seashells in vinegar with over 50 attendees. This engaging demonstration allowed children and adults to participate directly, helping them visually understand the impact of human activities on our oceans. While conducting the experiment, we discussed our project and how microplastics affect marine ecosystems.
We also organized beach cleanups, which served a dual purpose: collecting trash from local beaches and educating participants about plastic pollution. During these events, we engaged with community members, discussing the effects of microplastics on our oceans and the importance of our work. We were able to advertise these various events using social media platforms, such as Instagram, as well as to our local community.
We consistently engaged a wider audience by crafting informative posts on microplastics, scientific topics, and our project's objectives. Through these efforts, we successfully raised awareness about microplastic pollution, sparking meaningful conversations within our community on ocean health and potential solutions. By leveraging platforms like Instagram to share educational content through posts and stories, we broadened our outreach, making complex topics regarding synthetic biology and our project accessible to diverse audiences.