HKBU “Toxic Tree: Sleep with Microplastics” project raises concern for microplastics

Dr Patrick YUE, Senior Lecturer of the Department of Biology at Hong Kong Baptist University, co-organized a STEAM project titled “Toxic Tree: Sleep with Microplastics” with The Cultural Literacy of the Office of Student Affairs, and 12 students from February to April 2024. This project tailored activities integrating scientific knowledge with artistic expression for different age group students to deepen their understanding of how microplastics are produced in daily life and their impacts. Over 1,000 students participated in the project, spanning from kindergartens to primary and secondary schools and HKBU.

The 12 students are from the Programmes of Applied Biology, Government and International Studies, Ethics and Public Affairs, Communication, and Business Administration disciplines. The activities they created for kindergarteners involved storytelling to illustrate the impact of plastic on organisms and the environment, along with a game for classifying plastic and non-plastic wastes.

They engaged primary school students with games which allowed them to conduct self-assessment of their daily production and absorption of microplastics. For the secondary school group, they focused on conveying scientific knowledge through activities such as a quiz competition. As for the university community, various workshops were organised to convey environmental protection concepts, such as upcycling discarded peach blossom trees into artworks that can purify the air.

Microplastics are tiny plastic fragments smaller than 5mm, generated from the natural degradation of plastic materials or through industrial synthesis. Their distinct chemical properties pose potential risks to the health of different creatures, ecosystems, and the environment.

More information can be found HERE.

The student organizing committee shares their experience at the ceremony of the project.

The team recycles the discarded peach blossom trees into artworks from Y·PARK. Students also learn how to apply a novel coating technology that makes these “trees” exhibited air purification and fire retarding functions.

Secondary school students attended the Awards Presentation Ceremony cum Mini Fair at HKBU on 9 April. Students from BIOL 3016 Environmental Heath and Toxicology served as “citizen scientist” to introduce the knowledge of microplastics via presentation and practical demonstration.

The team tailor-made a workshop for sharing information about microplastics with students from kindergarten, primary and secondary schools.