Biotech Pathfinders

——-Showcasing the effects of microplastics on the human anatomy and aquatic ecosystems ——-

The display symbolizes the movement of microplastics throughout the marine ecosystems and the human body via utilizing an advanced-engineered, 3D printed, and lazer cut Rube Goldberg machine. With the rise of individuals utilizing plastics bags containing phthalates and the continual scientific findings of approximately 0.76 μg/L phthalates in drinking water, the pathfinder’s water bottle featuring an UVC-led (symbolized as a arduino-powered LED ring in the interactive display instead of real UVC due to safety issues complying with competition regulations) and an water filter - filtering out larger plastics - users of the pathfinder’s water bottle enable themselves to experience the advantages of high-quality, clean, and safe water. The water bottle features an arduino-powered LED ring and an 3D printed structure to showcase the advanced technology behind the water bottle.

Thesis + Explanation

Microplastics have proven to harm the human anatomy and cause a multitude of different harms to aquatic ecosystems around the world. Through legislation in place, non-profits striving to rid the ocean of microplastics , and the pathfinder’s water bottle - the issue of microplastics in the human anatomy and aquatic ecosystems alike can be transparently fixed.

Whilst a multitude of different solutions were plausible to potentially fix the pressing issue of microplastics in the ocean, the most efficient and currently reliable solutions include states in the United States such as Colorado, and California, enforcing a minor, yet effective, charge for purchasing plastic bags when shopping or other consumer based purchases, and in some cases - banning plastic bags as a whole; in addition states implementing legislation to modulate the amount of microplastics from plastic bags and polystyrene foam takeout containers from entering our anatomy and the ocean has proven to modulate the amount of microplastics entering both the human anatomy and aquatic ecosystems alike. Furthermore, non-profit organizations such as Ocean Conservancy and Plastic Pollution Coalition hire third party individuals to clean the ocean from plastics. Solutions such as compostable plastics and lightweight plastic packaging were rejected due to their ineffectiveness at producing better results that reduce plastic pollution in our environment.

Operating Instructions

Important Information

For this competition, we crafted an compelling Rube Goldberg machine featuring lazer cut pieces of wood, acrylic, and a 3D printed models and accompanying parts to craft an compelling scientifically backed display showcasing the movement of plastics throughout marine ecosystems and human body - more specifically showcasing the movement of such plastics very easily within such systems - highlighting the importance of the pathfinder’s water bottle in removing microplastics and phthalates from consumer drinking water due to water filteration companies failing to filter out phthalates sourced from plastic bags in oceans and sources of water.

The interactive display features two different systems in the movement of plastics via a marble symbolizing plastic bags moving throughout the marine ecosystems and human body. Via utilizing Solidworks and crafting the display from scratch, the movement of microplastics and phthalates are showcased via the marble moving throughout the crafted Rube Goldberg machine.
Due to the fact that the interactive display and the water bottle was 3-D printed via leveraging CAD skills and applications such as Solidworks - we were able to showcase the movement of microplastics throughout the environment in a technologically-advanced method.
The flow of microplastics through the environment starts off from disposable plastics such as plastic bags being thrown away in a trash can to enter the ocean - harming aquatic ecosystems and marine life -then flowing into water sources where drinking water is received from. The crafted Rube Goldberg machine showcases the movement of plastics and phthalates throughout the marine ecosystems and human body - highlighting the easy movement of such harmful substances in such ecosystems further highlighting the need of the pathfinder's revolutionary water bottle featuring an high-technology UVC-LED (real display features an Arduino-powered LED ring instead of an UVC-LED due to compliance with competition safety regulations) with a water filter ensuring water with phthalates and microplastics present is safe for user consumption.