Harnessing microplastics fluorescence to keep novel entities within planetary boundaries 

The Environmental Innovations Initiative is pleased to announce that Derek Ho, a postdoctoral fellow in the McBride Lab in the School of Engineering and Applied Science, has been chosen to represent the University of Pennsylvania at the 4th Edition of the Frontiers Planet Prize. By combining optical methods with machine learning techniques, Ho developed a highly accurate and cost-effective tool for detecting and identifying microplastics in water, soil, and sludge. Harnessing fluorescent patterns, this tool allows tracking the source and fate of microplastics in the environment, facilitating informed management strategies. Ho continues to identify and remediate microplastic pollution as part of the McBride Lab and with the EII research community, Philly Emerging Water Contaminants Initiative. Beyond academia, he is known as “Dr. Microplastics”, where he shares educational resources and promotes plastic-free initiatives through his outreach platform, plasticfreepals.org. 

Image: Fluorescence image of the 10 most common Nile Red–stained microplastics (PP, HDPE, LDPE, EPS, PS, PC, ABS, PVC, PET, PA) under 405 nm excitation.