The Microplastics Challenge: Towards a Cleaner Future

COIL: Tackling Microplastics in Water

Microplastics are everywhere—from oceans to drinking water—and pose risks to both ecosystems and human health. This COIL brings together international teams to explore how microplastics interact with pollutants, impact living organisms, and how we can detect and remove them. 

Students participating in this COIL will be using innovative life sciences solutions to develop cleaner water for a healthier planet.

What we explore

• Impact on life and health: How do microplastics affect fish, other aquatic organisms, and people through drinking water or food?
• Pollution link: Do microplastics make other pollutants more toxic?
• Detection: How can we measure microplastics in water or even in living tissue?

Innovative solutions

• Using biotechnology and biomedical science to understand health risks and microbial applications.
• Applying chemistry and chemical engineering to develop better filtration systems and materials for water purification.
• Identifying harmful substances in wastewater from plastic recycling and finding ways to break down or remove them.

Global collaboration
Students work in multidisciplinary international teams using online platforms to share ideas, research data, and solutions. Through video meetings and collaborative tools, they tackle one of today’s biggest environmental challenges—together.

Be part of this exciting COIL and experience new ideas, make meaningful connections, and get inspired for the future!