The students who came first in the TUBITAK High School Students Pole Research Projects Competition made their dreams come true. In the competition organized as part of TEKNOFEST, high school students who developed bioplastics from acorns had the opportunity to test their projects in Antarctica. Meeting with Turkish and foreign scientists in the White Continent, the students also observed the effects of global warming on the continent.
POLLUTION IN THE POLES
In the High School Students Polar Research Projects Competition organized by TÜBİTAK Scientist Support Programs Presidency (BİDEB) in 2022 within the scope of TEKNOFEEST, 3 female students won the first place with their “Indigenous and National Bioplastic Material Production Project to Prevent Bioplastic Pollution in the Arctic Oceans”.
BIOPLASTIC FROM Acorns
High school students synthesized bioplastic film using acorns. With these projects, he obtained a material that can dissolve in nature in 45 days and is 20 times more durable than plastics. The champion girls had the opportunity to participate in the 7th National Antarctic Science Expedition upon the recommendation of the Minister of Industry and Technology Mustafa Varank, who examined their projects at the TEKNOFEST events in Giresun.
MEET WITH SCIENTISTS
Under the auspices of the Presidency, under the responsibility of the Ministry of Industry and Technology, high school students who participated in the Science Expedition under the coordination of TÜBİTAK MAM Polar Research Institute (KARE) did a 3-day fieldwork in the White Continent. Visiting Collins Glacier and Ardley Island, students met with scientists at Chile's Escudero Base on King George Island and asked questions about climate change. Students also had the opportunity to observe polar creatures and the melting of glaciers in Antarctica.
Our Team sözcüsü Zeynep İpek Yılmaz said the following about the development of bioplastics from acorns:
BIOPLASTIC FROM Acorns
We did a lot of literature review. We also reviewed previous studies. We have seen that materials such as corn, rice and wheat, which are consumed as food, are used in the production of bioplastics and they are not sustainable. We thought about what we could use. We preferred oak acorn because it is common in Turkey. It was the first time I've seen acorns eat squirrels in a cartoon, but I never thought I'd use it in a project to produce a bioplastic and bring me to Antarctica.
WE SUCCESSFULLY CARRIED OUT THE PROJECT
High school student Yılmaz, who also talked about his experience in Antarctica, said, “We visited the laboratories of different countries' science bases and listened to the projects of the scientists there. We also listened to the projects of our Turkish scientists, and we told them. We had the opportunity to successfully realize our project there.” said.
WE WERE EXPECTING A WHITE CONTINENT
Stating that they saw the effects of global warming in Antarctica, Yılmaz said, “We expected a white continent, but it was not like that because of global warming. We were expecting penguin colonies, there was a decrease in the colonies, the penguins migrated further south. We have observed concretely the damage we inflict on living things that live thousands of kilometers away from us. That's why I think we will work harder and produce newer projects to save them.” he said.
Director of TÜBİTAK MAM Polar Research Institute and 7th National Antarctic Science Expedition Coordinator Prof. Dr. Burcu Özsoy also explained that they concluded the expedition successfully and continued as follows:
WITNESSED IMPORTANT MOMENTS
We left Turkey and went to South America. Afterwards, we arrived in Antarctica and transferred to our home. We had base visits planned. We made our base visits. Our students, who won the TÜBİTAK Polar Research Contest, had the chance to visit the laboratories in these works and meet scientists.