SOTY 22/23: Scientist & Mathematician first runner-up is passionate about solving issue of microplastics
- Jeffrey Chang, who recently graduated from St Paul’s College, was driven to fight pollution after seeing beach in North Point littered with rubbish
- Ideas for combating marine pollution include using artificial intelligence to calculate ocean currents and monitor microplastics, robotic fish to collect data
Jeffrey Chang from St Paul’s College won first runner up in the Scientist & Mathematician category at the 2022-2023 Student of the Year awards. Photo: HandoutWhen Jeffrey Chang went for his regular runs by the seaside near his home three years ago, the student was shocked. The beach in North Point was littered with disposable food containers and various types of debris.
Intrigued by what he saw and driven by his curiosity for science, the then Form Four student at St Paul’s College read media reports and academic articles about pollution and uncovered the truth about microplastics – small plastic pieces that are harmful to the ocean as well as marine life. And humans, too, are not spared.
“When large plastic items enter the ocean, they break into smaller fragments over time. These tiny plastic particles can enter our bodies through the food we eat, the water we drink, and even the air we breathe,” he explained. “Once inside our bodies, they can pass through our stomach walls and enter our bloodstream. They do not decrease, they only increase. It’s as if we’re slowly becoming plastic beings.”
Jeffrey, who recently graduated from Form Six, said he was particularly alarmed by a study that showed 17 out of about 20 randomly selected blood samples contained microplastics.
This prompted him to shift his focus from his usual routines and maths competitions to addressing the pressing issue of microplastics.
After a week of studying scientific papers, he began exploring ways to combat pollution. Some of his ideas included using robotic fish for data collection, using artificial intelligence to calculate ocean currents and monitor microplastics in the ocean, and developing an alarm system for endangered marine life.
While these proposals may require further research before they can be used in real life, Jeffrey’s passion for science impressed the judges of the Scientist & Mathematician category of this year’s Student of the Year (SOTY) awards.
Hong Kong drains pour billions of pieces of microplastics into the sea every day
The competition is organised by the South China Morning Post and sponsored by The Hong Kong Jockey Club.
“Secondary school is a fantastic stage for trying things out,” said Jeffrey, who won the first runner-up award.
Jeffrey was interested in mathematics from a young age. In secondary school, he developed a passion for coding, robotics, and artificial intelligence.
Now, he is using this knowledge to create a chess game for children after making a promise to a group of youngsters he met during an exhibition at the Gifted Education Institute.
In the exhibition, Jeffrey promoted Hong Kong University of Science and Technology’s quantum computing programme by creating a Western chess variant incorporating quantum concepts.
The children asked him if the game was available online, and Jeffrey promised to make it accessible within a year.