Friday 27 September 2019

We are the World Blogfest # 29: Fish Scale Bioplastic …




James Dyson Awards … 2019 National Winners announced from over 1,000 young engineers, designers and entrepreneurs …



 … Lucy Hughes wins the British National Award while all 81 finalists from 27 countries and regions competing in their area will progress to the international stages.



… the University of Sussex graduate used fish waste and sustainable algae to create MarinaTex, a compostable alternative to single-use plastic …



She practiced to get the right consistency and result – by using her student accommodation kitchen!  Makes one wonder …



Common Red Algae used
for Agar


But what an amazing idea that was 'spawned' from looking into the fishing industry and its waste … she believed she could find value in the waste, and was able to discover resources that are renewable to use as the organic binder.




What it Does
Her Inspiration
How it Works
Design Process
How it is Different
Future Plans
    and the Awards she’s won …



Medieval view of fish processing ...
by Peter Brueghel, the elder 1556
Anything that aims to utilise fish waste, use organic and sustainable products to create this bioplastic deserves to be known about and applauded.


The James Dyson Award list highlights other winners, who will be whittled down to 20 for the international prize due to be announced on 17 October.




Lucy Hughes c/o DeZeen article
Here's to more like Lucy Hughes, her mentors and Sussex University who all deserve a huge applause for thinking out of the box and realising the wealth that can be obtained from a mountain of fish waste, and then mixing it with sustainable algae from the oceans to create MarinaTex.





We are the World – in Darkness Be Light





Hilary Melton-Butcher
Positive Letters Inspirational Stories

49 comments:

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Plastic that doesn't hang around forever - brilliant idea!

bazza said...

How inspirational is that! What a bright future that young lady will have. I am going to follow the links to get more details.
I am reminded of one of my nieces who worked on analysing cannon-balls brought up from The Mary Rose (Henry VIII's ship) and now the findings are used to help preserve metals underwater. Whoda thought?
CLICK HERE for Bazza’s ultimately unthinkable Blog ‘To Discover Ice’

Joanne said...

congrats to her and all other scientists working on new solutions. Very creative. But, indeed, I'd hate to be her roommate or anyone using the kitchen after her. I would think fish stuff had to stink to high heaven. Whew!

lostinimaginaryworlds.blogspot.com said...

A wonderful girl who has done so much for us and the planet. And I did wonder when you mentioned where she created this magic, Hilary. There is good news emerging from all the gloom, thank you for finding it 🌹

Hels said...

I thought I had seen all of Brueghel's images but clearly not. Medieval view of fish processing, by Peter Brueghel I, 1556 is very clever. And relevant.

David M. Gascoigne, said...

If Lucy has come up with a substitute for single use plastic she deserves a Nobel prize for innovation that can change the world. She is probably far too modest to even contemplate such a possibility, unlike a certain prominent politician who believes he should win the Nobel for "many things." Now if there was a category for lying......maybe a trophy in the image of Pinnochio..........or even an extortion award.......the list goes on. As he said, many things.

John "By Stargoose And Hanglands" said...

Congratulations to that young woman. She's not coming anywhere near my kitchen though!

Mike@Bit About Britain said...

THAT is absolutely amazing! Wow!!

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

@ Alex – she’s developed something really ‘brilliant’ as you so rightly say …

@ Bazza – exactly – she seems to have been on South East tv … but I’ve yet to see it. That’s great you’ll be following the links – her project is really informative … while the others are worth looking through too.

Oh how interesting … we’re having talks by someone who worked on the Mary Rose – so I’m with you on that subject. I should get her name – so I can check in with Eric when he gives his talk to us …

The Mary Rose exploration has been really interesting to find out about – I was in South Africa when she was raised … so missed that bit …

@ Joanne – yes all scientists do do their own thing, which so often leads to new developments – as you say very creative.

I had to put the kitchen snippet in – just brought her research to life … checking on the agar’s binding agent … it can’t have been that pongy though …

@ Carole – lots of scientific ideas here … all 81 of them – I was amazed. It looks like Lucy will go far …

@ Hels – well I’m glad I used the Brueghel painting … and yes it is appropriate to the post isn’t it …

@ David – it’ll be interesting to see how she does … first to get the international award … then perhaps the Nobel prize – let’s hope. Oh well we won’t talk about that man … he couldn’t win anything by himself … you’ve said it all … and I concur!!

@ Rue – thanks … she’s obviously a great chemist …

@ John – oh dear … poor Lucy – I’m sure she’d love to be using your kitchen … delicious smells! Still as you say ‘congratulations’ …

@ Mike – it’s a great British story by the look of it – so pleased for her …

Thanks for all your comments on this ‘fishy’ post – please visit the other #WATWB posts … thank you! Cheers Hilary

Debbie D. said...

Absolutely ingenious! 👌 The world needs more people like Lucy Hughes. Thanks for sharing this wonderful achievement, Hilary!

A WORLD OF INCLUSION #WATWB

Rhodesia said...

Congratulations to her and everyone else who can invent something to remove and stop the use of plastic. Have a good weekend, Diane

Truedessa said...

We need more inventive people to help save our planet and using less plastic is a must. There is indeed hope. Thanks for sharing this.

bazza said...

(My niece who worked on the Mary Rose is Hayley Simon)

Elephant's Child said...

Absolutely brilliant. And hooray for yet another 'young un) showing us the way.

Fil said...

Great to see all the new ideas coming from young people at the minute and hurrah for an awards scheme like this one that gives them the opportunities to take their inspirational ideas further.

Chatty Crone said...

That was brilliant. How does one so young and beautiful even start to think of something like that? Amazing.

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

@ Debbie – I agree … ingenious and working from a different view point – we definitely need more like Lucy … in fact there are more youngsters like Lucy working out solutions for us …

@ Diane – I agree … but it’s so good to know that scientists are tackling these sorts of problems and are succeeding – though development is needed.

@ Truedessa – using less plastic is an essential to us letting the planet do its thing … and thankfully for students doing their research and being inventive – it does give us hope …

@ Bazza – thanks for letting me know that … I’ll mention her to Eric when I see him in 13 days time!

@ Fil – it’s so good reading about the ‘young uns’ showing us the way forward and thinking differently to help the planet.

@ Sandie – the young have lots to offer us … so there’s hope with our children and grandchildren being innovative with their ideas and approach.

Thanks so much to you all … we are lucky with knowledge being shared, as it tends to be at universities … which can lead to many new approaches to sorting out difficult situations. Cheers Hilary

Janie Junebug said...

Congratulations, Lucy Hughes. You are brilliant. Thank you for telling us about her, Hilary. Her research is very important.

Love,
Janie

Susan Scott said...

500,000 tones of fish waste! That’s a huge amount and glad that it’s not going to waste and can be usefully used. Brilliant article Hilary, thank you for sharing it for #WATWB. All cheers to Lacy -

Jz said...

Man, do I hope that idea takes off!
Hats off to Lucy.

retirementreflections said...

Hi, Hilary - This is a very inspirational and timely article! If Lucy could create this in a student-accommodation kitchen, think what difference each of us could make when we really try!

Jo said...

Brilliant young woman. How long before we all get the use of it I wonder. I think she will be making a lot of money that young lady. Congrats to her and all power to her elbow.

Computer Tutor said...

That is amazing. Huzzah, Lucy! I've cut way down on my use of plastic. One person at a time, right?

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

@ Janie - great: isn't she, and as you say her research is so important in these days ...

@ Susan - I know a lot of fish waste ... let alone the amount that's thrown out at sea. But Lucy at least is looking at the ways it could be utilised ... and put it to some use.

@ Jz - it looks like it will take off ... she reckons just over a year away before it can be looked at for commercial outlets ...

@ Donna - yes the Dyson awards came through to my notice at just the right moment ... and I'm so glad it's a Sussex lass, as too using sustainable algae.

The student accommodation I suspect was a 2nd kitchen ... but why not - making good use of what's available. I agree we could all push on a bit and do more ... especially as students.

@ Jo - she is brilliant isn't she. I read that they thought it would be just over a year away before they can bring it to market. But exactly she's got the right approach to her studies ...

@ Jacqui - exactly - huzzah to Lucy. I too try and eliminate as much as I can ... and other things that affect the planet - one item, one person at a time ... so true.

Cheers to you all - delighted you've been pleased to read up about Lucy's work ... all the best - Hilary

Notes Along the Way with Mary Montague Sikes said...

What a great product and article! Thank you for sharing!

Mark Koopmans said...

Talk about outside the box thinking... Lucy is going to have one hell of a career ahead of her, and fair bloody play to her !!

D.G. Kaye said...

Amazing discovery. Another pioneer leading the way for a better world. <3

Erica/Erika said...

Definitely a positive, inspirational story Hilary! Lucy Hughes is definitely someone who thinks outside of the box. She restores my faith in the future. Thank you for sharing:)

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

@ Monti - isn't it ... just amazing what our scientists can come up with - good to see you.

@ Mark - I know ... interesting to see her approach to her problem solving product - as you say she'll be doing well ...

@ Debby - I agree fascinating what can be achieved with some blue sky thinking with scientific knowledge. She looks like she'll be a pioneer ...

@ Erica - thank you - Lucy definitely has given us a positive approach to the future of fish waste ... and these youngsters can so easily restore our faith in the future.

Thanks so much to you all - it's such an inspirational idea ... I sure expect her MarinaTex to go places. Cheers Hilary

bookworm said...

Our world needs more men and women like this - to repair what is wrong and to help the human race survive in the coming years. Alana ramblinwitham.blogspot.com

Liz A. said...

What a great idea.

Nilanjana Bose said...

Young people all round the world are doing a better job than our generation in cleaning up the planet. More power to Lucy and her peers!

Keith's Ramblings said...

I knew nothing about this, it should have received more publicity. Hopefully, she'll be an inspiration to other young people.

Susan Kane said...

Brilliant! Such a thinking outside the box lady!

DMS said...

I love this kind of thinking. Fantastic! We need more people thinking like Lucy. Thanks for sharing her story with us. Fills me with hope. :)
~Jess

R's Rue said...

❤️

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

@ Alana - there are 81 finalists altogether ... so many other ideas ... as you say we need these scientists to help us through ...

@ Liz - isn't it ...

@ Nila - I know ... the young have a different approach to life - which is especially what we need now.

@ Keith - interestingly she was on tv and in the papers ... friends said they'd heard of her award ... and I saw it in a curated journal. The awards have popped into my Feedly via sites I subscribe to ...

@ Susan - yes ... clever girl ... such a great idea to use fish waste and then the sustainable binder.

@ Jess - when we see scientists developing ideas that will help this troublesome world, we certainly applaud them and look forward to their ideas being launched.

@ Rue - thank you ...

Cheers to you all - it's great to have successful entrepreneurs, such as James Dyson, open up philanthropically to challenge the youngsters to develop their ideas via an award system to improve the world. Thanks - Hilary

Sandra Cox said...

Now that's interesting. I'm assuming she found some way to sanitize it.

Julie Flanders said...

Oh wow, how fascinating. I never cease to be amazed at the ideas people come up with. Thanks for sharing this!

H. R. Sinclair said...

That's amazing. Wild--fish waste!

Lynda R Young as Elle Cardy said...

Wow, that's fabulous!! Finding value in the waste is the way to go :)

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

@ Sandra - The processes she's been through to get to this point - means it's been rigorously developed.

@ Julie - isn't it wonderful - and I agree ... we do find out some wonderful things that are happening around the world.

@ Holly - it's great that waste is being valued and then utilised ... as you say 'wild'!

@ Lynda - I know finding value in waste, especially fish waste - but many people seem to be taking the initiative these days ... yet new ideas keep coming - as you say 'way to go' ...

Thanks everyone - I just love finding out about these great ideas ... cheers Hilary

Anonymous said...

I'm in awe of people who can create things like this. It simply amazes me. One of my kids has a brain that never stops and they are forever coming up with brilliant ideas. Thank you for sharing hers with us.

Elsie

Suzanne Furness said...

That is certainly a brilliant invention and one we should all get excited about. Thanks for highlighting it here, Hilary.

cleemckenzie said...

She deserves kudos+. What a brilliant young woman.

Liza said...

Wonderful! So grateful to folks like Lucy!

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

@ Elsie - it's interesting to see different members of the family grow up and develop their world ... certainly hope your 'kiddo' finds his/her passion to pursue ...

@ Suzanne - I find it interesting how technological people can find their way through our problems and give us hope for new materials or machinery ...

@ Lee - she certainly is getting kudos ... and will I'm sure go on to help society so much ...

@ Liza - one wonders how much people realise our scientists are designing and developing new ideas for us ...

Thank you - lovely to see you here ... cheers Hilary

Eric Lahti said...

Now that's a brilliant idea. Way to turn waste into something useful!

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Hi Eric - great to see you here ... I thought this project of Lucy's deserved recognition and via #WATWB I can do this ... so am glad you approve - there's a lot of value in waste ... people keep finding new ways to retrieve, recycle etc ...
Cheers Hilary