THE University of San Carlos (USC) in Cebu and the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (Searca) shared the spotlight in a winning video featuring an innovative approach to tackling plastic pollution by creating biodegradable bioplastics from shrimp shells and mango waste. USC's entry, "Unusually sustainable — bioplastics from shrimp shells plus mango waste," premiered at the Curious2024 Future Insight Conference in Mainz, Germany, where the 2,000-strong conference crowd voted for their favorite. The video was among the top 10 entries in the global Nature Awards for the Science in Shorts filmmaking competition premiering at the German conference. The Nature Awards for the Science in Shorts filmmaking competition encourages researchers to communicate complex scientific ideas through creative and concise videos. It showcases the importance of science communication to bridge the gap between research and public understanding, Searca said. It highlights groundbreaking work in sustainable agriculture, with the "Searca x USC" entry competing against 250 global submissions. The winning USC project was funded by the Searca Grants for Research toward Agricultural Innovative Solutions (Grains), which supports innovative agricultural research projects for knowledge sharing and facilitates partnerships to accelerate the adoption of sustainable technologies. It provides an eco-friendly, low-carbon solution as a sustainable alternative to conventional plastics and addresses one of today's most pressing environmental issues. The project was led by Professor Francis Siacor, lead researcher and chairman of the USC Chemical Engineering Department, with engineer Kristine Claire Villanueva as research associate. Searca said USC's bioplastics project "exemplifies how Grains nurtures agricultural solutions that have both environmental and societal impact." It said the USC project highlights the role of circular agriculture in waste management, and by transforming discarded materials into bioplastics, the project "not only mitigates plastic pollution but also adds value to agricultural waste products." Searca said this aligns with its mission of advancing agricultural innovation and fostering sustainable development. "This recognition is a testament to the potential of agricultural research in addressing global challenges like plastic pollution," Searca Director Glenn Gregorio said. "We are proud to support projects like this through Grains to accelerate the adoption of groundbreaking technologies that benefit both people and the planet," he added. Eric Reynoso, Searca head for the Emerging Innovation and Growth program, said the top 10 distinctions garnered by the Searca x USC collaboration "showcased the potential of local research to make a significant impact on the global stage." The videos are available on the official Nature Awards Science in Shorts platform.
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