BHP Billiton Foundation Science and Engineering Awards seek to recognise outstanding high school students who have undertaken innovative and practical scientific or engineering projects.
were drawn from across the country, with the major prizes awarded to Oliver Nicholls, Minh Nga Nguyen and Angelina Arora.
Angelina who is a year 10 student at Sydney Girls High School was announced the winner of the 2018 ‘Innovator to Market prize’.
Concerned about the damage plastics do to the environment, especially the ocean, Angelina set out to develop a bioplastic made from prawn shell and sticky protein from the silk of silkworms.
Angelina hopes this plastic could replace current plastic shopping bags and other packaging to reduce the environmental impact in landfill and in the ocean.
“The plastic completely degrades leaving nothing harmful behind,” she claims.
Angelina’s project focus is to develop bioplastic and then making it available for commercial use out of waste products.
Source: CSIRO
“From childhood I was always a very curious child, like, how does this work, why do we do this? And I think that’s really grown into my love for science and that curiosity I can take and investigate into different problems that in the real world, that people face,” she said.
“So, it was amazing after all those months and months of research that I finally created a plastic that was suitable. I really hoped that I would and that was what I envisioned, and I eventually got there.
I love science so much. I believe that it’s the key to all the mysteries in the world.
“I can definitely see science and engineering as part of the future. I couldn’t imagine myself doing anything else.
“In the future, I’d like to go into medicine, but I believe it’s all about helping people and whether it be the environment, humanity, animals, anything and that’s what counts in the end.
"So, I was super ecstatic about becoming a finalist in the BHP Billiton Awards again for a second time.
CSIRO Chief Executive Dr Larry Marshall said the award winners and finalists ideas could help all Australians cope with a rapidly changing future.
Shrimp Shell Bioplastics: A new solution to the world’s growing plastic problem (Photo/Info courtesy CSIRO) Source: Supplied
“We know that the achievements of the winners and finalists will inspire other students to become innovators solving the big challenges that face our world.”
BHP Chief Executive Officer Andrew Mackenzie said the awards had been supporting young people’s achievements and interest in STEM since they began in 1981.
