SHS scientists discuss development with top UK academics and environmental scientists

Students at Stamford High School are working with the University of Portsmouth and Innovate UK to further develop their concept for a 'plastic-digesting amphibious vehicle', tackling the issue of plastic pollution.Five students from Stamford High School have held meetings with three academics from the University of Portsmouth and Ms Sarah Banning, member of Innovate UK, to discuss the possibilities for future development of their 'Plastic-Digesting Amphibious Vehicle Project'. This project achieved victory at the 'British International Education Association (BIEA)' competition earlier last year.Year 10 students, Sophie Farr, Olga Kryl, Ruby Sumner, Anna Barsham and Millie Hindmarch, at Stamford High School have developed a 'Plastic-Digesting Amphibious Vehicle'. The basic premise of their product is about distributing a plastic degrading enzyme, 'PETase', through the use of an amphibious vehicle. This could reduce plastic in hard to reach seas, mudbanks and even on land.The students victory in the 'BIEA' competition earlier last year caught the eye of Amanda Solway MP, the UK's Science Minister who put the students in contact with Sara Banning and the researchers from Portsmouth University.In the first meeting with Sara Banning of Innovate UK, the students summarised their progress and the ambitions of the project. Sara made several interesting suggestions and mentioned other organisations who might want to become involved in taking the project forward.Following this conversation, a TEAMS meeting was set up between the students and three researchers from Portsmouth University. The meeting was hugely informative and inspiring for the students. The researchers were hugely impressed with the work the students had done and pointed out some steps they might like to take moving forward. The researchers advised the students to get in contact with the Ellen mcArthur Foundation and the Ocean Clean Up Group.The researchers commented to the students: "Wow, you are really passionate. I wish that when I was in Year 10 I was that driven. It is amazing to see". With their colleague adding: " this is the kind of thinking that people with 20 years’ experience are doing, and so the fact that you are doing it now is amazing!"Unfortunately, the University of Portsmouth are unable to currently offer any lab space due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, however, one of the researchers is looking to continue to pursue the engineering and robotics aspects for the construction of a 'prototype'.Going forward, the team are highly motivated to continue developing the project. After a meeting this week, the students said: "At the moment, due to Covid-19 restrictions, we plan to do more research into designing our vehicle so that it can detect PET specifically, using infrared detection, and then manually collect it into the vehicle"."Eventually, we would love the opportunity to look into getting a placement at Portsmouth University to work with researchers into the enzyme PETase and begin hierarchical research working in sand, then pure water, then tap water and eventually testing it in fresh water."We can't wait to see what happens with this project in the future.To read about the girls success in developing the project and winning the BIEA competition, please click here.To read more news from Stamford High School, please click here.