Our initiative
Plastic pollution is one of the most pressing global issues that need our immediate actions. Since 2018, GT iGEM team has been using innovative technologies and citizen science to address the plastic pollution problem. With the positive impacts that our work brings to both students and the communities, “Zero Plastic League” was officially launched on 6 July 2022 to continue the visions of the GT iGEM team to alleviate plastic pollution problem. Zero Plastic League (ZPL) also serves to nurture more young advocates to lead and engage their peers to take the initiative to protect our planet.
Learn about our initiatives through Dr. Christine Yu's intro video!
Student leaders' intro video
Our awards
All our glories at a glance.
Our awards
1 / International Genetically Engineered Machine (iGEM) Competition, iGEM Foundation
2019: HK_GTC (Gold Medal)
Project title: Plasteriase: Mutating a Bacterial PET-degrading enzyme
Click here to explore the 2019 iGEM team's work
2021: HK_GTC (Gold Medal)
Project title: Practical: PETase & Related Analogous Chimeras Transfused in Computer and AI Learning.
Click here to explore the 2021 iGEM team's work
2023: HKGTC (Gold Medal)
Project title: Quorum Sensing system for Microplastic Detection (QSMiD)
2 / Sing Yin Green Fashion Show 2023, Sing Yin Secondary School
Third Place
3 / “Bye Bye Microbeads” Charter, Environmental Protection Department HKSAR Government
Platinum Class Partnership Certificate
Bye Bye Microbeads Award – Excellence Award
4 / S.T. Yau High School Science Award (Asia) 2023, The Hong Kong Young Academy of Sciences
Entered second stage in July 2023
Project title: Performance analysis and comparison of Mask R-CNN and Complex-Valued Neural Network for improved robotic plastic detection
5 / G.T. College – International Science Project Competition 2024, Gifted Education Council & G.T. (Ellen Yeung) College
Best Potential Award
Project title – A hydrogel-based assay utilizing whole-cell biosensor as a portable device for microplastic quantitation
6 / G.T. College – International Science Project Competition 2024, Gifted Education Council & G.T. (Ellen Yeung) College
First Runner-up, Best Presentation Award
Project title – AI-powered microplastic monitoring and remediation system for coastal environments
Partnerships
HKSAR Government Environmental Protection Department (EPD)
This year, ZPL has partnered with the EPD in the “Bye Bye Microbeads” Charter to promote microbeads for secondary school students. In the coming year, the partnership with EPD will also include Beach cleanup activities, sharing of project data and survey results and promotion of plastic pollution to HK secondary schools.
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
Zero Plastic League (ZPL) is honoured to be in partnership with UNESCO in the greening education starting from 31 July 2024. ZPL takes part in this collaborative platform to advance climate change education for sustainable development.
