Viet Tran (2023-2025) Research: Autonomous underwater microplastic pollution control via vortex formation - ASR Laboratory, Odessa High School, Odessa, WA (2025) Microplastics attract and carry pollutants as well as release chemicals into waters around them. Many of these chemicals were added to make the original plastic products they came from colorful or flexible. This effect poses a significant threat to marine life, as aquatic organisms can ingest these contaminated particles, leading to bioaccumulation and biomagnification throughout the food chain. By studying microplastic behavior and effects, we can prevent their effects on the ecosystem by removing the microplastics from the water altogether. An engineered robot capable of creating a vortex will be 10% more efficient at collecting microplastics than traditional microplastic collectors due to a vortex having more range underwater. The average recovery rate of microplastics in the control group (no NADES solution) in both air and water were 0.0%. The average recovery rate of microplastics in the experimental group (NADES solution) in air was 84.0±16.2% while the water was 72.0±11.7%. The next phase of this research will be to implement the NADES solution with rotors underwater to reveal the percent recovery in a simulated environment. Recognition: 2025 - Senior Division Award in Environmental Engineering, EWRSEF, Spokane, WA - 2nd Place Senior Division Award in Environmental Engineering, Ribbon, WSSEF, Bremerton, WA - National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Award, Certificate, WSSEF, Bremerton, WA - Stockholm Junior Water Prize Award, Entrance to Nationals, Certificate, WSSEF, Bremerton, WA - Outstanding Computer Science Award, Division of Computer Science & Programming, OHS, Odessa, WA |
