Merin T Pereira, a doctoral researcher at Westminster’s School of Life Sciences, shared her groundbreaking work with pupils at Cherry Orchard Primary School to educate the next generation about microplastics in water.
Merin represented the University’s Sustainable Biotechnology Research Group on a school outreach visit to educate young people about the growing threat of microplastic pollution in rivers, lakes and oceans, and spark an early interest in biotechnology, sustainability and environmental science. Merin’s talk showed students the hidden hazards of microplastics and what science is doing to fight back, reflecting the University’s Being Westminster strategic commitment to making the world a more sustainable, healthier and better place.
The interactive session included visual demonstrations, quizzes and simple experiments to show how plastics can end up in everyday water sources. Students were rewarded for getting involved with eco-friendly badges and each pupil received at least one badge for their efforts.
Microplastic pollution is a critical global issue, where tiny fragments from larger plastic items that degrade over time accumulate in the environment, harm marine life and may pose risks to human health.
Merin’s PhD research aims to find a solution, focusing on the biodegradation of microplastics using specialised microorganisms and enzymes. Her work not only investigates how these pollutants can be broken down biologically but also how the resulting components can be upcycled or transformed into valuable by-products such as bioplastics and bioenergy. This approach represents a more promising path towards a circular economy, where waste is not just disposed, but turned into a resource.
About the visit a teacher at Cherry Orchard Primary School said: “It was a fantastic learning opportunity. Merin made complex science feel accessible and fun. The children were buzzing with excitement afterwards—many said they now want to be scientists!”
Merin added: “It was amazing to see how curious and enthusiastic the children were. They asked intelligent questions and many of them were shocked to learn that microplastics can be found even in the water we drink.”
Professor Godfrey Kyazze, Co-Leader of the Sustainable Biotechnology Research Group and Merin’s academic supervisor, said: “Merin is not only advancing cutting-edge research in sustainable biotechnology, but she’s also helping to inspire the next generation of scientists. This is exactly the kind of impact we want our researchers to have.”
Merin’s work directly supports several of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) including SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation, SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure and SDG 14: Life Below Water. Since 2019, the University of Westminster has used the SDGs holistically to frame strategic decisions to help students and colleagues fulfil their potential and contribute to a more sustainable, equitable and healthier society.
Find out more about Biological and Biomedical Sciences courses at the University of Westminster.
