Gert-Jan Gruter, professor of Industrial Sustainable Chemistry (UvA) and Marja Lamoree, professor of Analytical Chemistry for Environment and Health (VU Amsterdam) work together on novel biobased plastics and their fate in nature:

Almost anything can be made from plastic, a really super convenient material. But when it breaks down, it ends up as tiny particles, microplastics, in the environment and in humans. We have been able to measure this in people's blood, where it can be bad for our health. Moreover, plastic is bad for the climate because it is made from oil. That is why we have made a new kind of plastic from plants, which can be reused, breaks down better and contains fewer harmful additives. Because we can't really do without plastic anymore!

They hope to be able to present this research in an Klokhuis episode and you can help them make this a reality by voting for them on the Klokhuis website!

This year, three UvA teams are competing for the Klokhuis Science Award. The other contestants are

• Milica Nikolic and team (Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences), with their research on how smiling and blushing can help us make new friends.
• Mazi Jalaal and team (Faculty of Science), with their research on the Marangoni effect and tiny robot boats that move using alcohol.