Microplastics And Me

Microplastics And Me

The Children's Book Council

Microplastics—the broken down byproduct of plastic items we toss out every day—are choking our oceans. But middle-schooler Anna Du is on the case! Now a top science fair winner, Anna shares her account of how she went from worrying about the environment to designing award-winning solutions. Writing for kids her own age, Anna alerts her readers to the threat of microplastics pollution and urges them to care about the environment. She leads them through the frustrating-yet-rewarding process of design, engineering, and invention. This book could inspire a generation of inventors and engineers! link

Midwest Review

Microplastics and Me may sound like nonfiction (indeed, it embraces many nonfiction elements, educating readers about microplastics and conservation), but it reads with the lively inspection of fiction and will reach grades 3-6 with its story of middle grader/author Anna Du's discovery of how she translated her environmental concerns into award-winning solutions.

...

Microplastics and Me is a highly recommended, unique standout in the world of children's conservation writing. Its young author's enthusiasm, research, and concrete science fair tips are extraordinarily helpful and hopeful for fellow would-be young conservationists. link

Recent news

  • State Library of Massachusetts
  • April 10th, 2024

Author Talk with Anna Du

State Library of Massachusetts will host a Author Talk with Anna Du, author of Microplastics and Me Read more

  • Society for Science and Public
  • January 11, 2024

2024 Regeneron STS Scholars

Anna is one of the top 300 scholars in Regeneron STS 2024 Read more

  • National STEM Day
  • November 9, 2023

Gen Z Women in STEM

Anna is one of Gen Z Women making wave in STEM Read more

  • Davidson Fellows Scholarship
  • July 19, 2023

2024 Davidson Fellows Scholarship

Anna Du Named 2023 Davidson Fellows Scholarship Winner Read more

  • Museum Of Science
  • June 5th, 2023

Museum Of Science

Teen Developed Amazing AI tool to Predict Ocean Plastic Pollution Read more

  • Good Morning America/ABC
  • March 24, 2023

Teen raises awareness about microplastics in oceans

Anna Du, a 17-year-old high school student, invented a device to detect dangerous microplastics in the ocean in hopes of raising awareness about the issue. Read more

  • NBC5
  • March 27, 2023

Machine invented by Boston-area high school student helps keep ocean clean

A Massachusetts teenager's impressive invention is helping to clean up small pieces of plastic from the ocean. Read more

  • Young Change Makers Book Series
  • June 22, 2022

Leading The Way

Anna is in the book series Young Change Makes - Leading The Way Read more

  • Design Boom
  • June 13th, 2022

THE INSPIRING STORY OF ANNA DU

If you’re in need of some wholesome content then this story of high-schooler Anna Du might just do the trick... Read more

  • Inspire More
  • June 2nd, 2022

Teen Inventor Takes On Microplastic Pollution Armed With A Robot And Book

Anna Du grew up with a hunger for knowledge and a passion for making the earth a better place. Now, at just 16 years old, she’s already making incredible contributions to help reduce microplastic pollution Read more

  • Upworthy
  • April 5th, 2022

Upworthy Voices: Anna Du is Saving Our Oceans!

Anna Du is only 16 - but she's changing the world already. This motivated and environmentally conscious high school student... Read more

  • Junior Science And Humanities Symposium
  • March 24th, 2022

JSHS New England First Place

Anna won First Place at Junior Science And Humanities Symposium New England region, and now is a two-time National Finalist. Read more

  • National Geography
  • March 6th, 2022

Cultivating Empathy for the Earth Award

Anna won That's Geography! Cultivating Empathy for the Earth Award by Society of Science and Public and National Geographic Read more

  • National Science Museum (NSM)THAILAND
  • November 9-19, 2021

2021 International Photo Exhibition River and Ocean, Connecting Water to Life

Anna's photograph was selected to be part of the 2021 International Photo Exhibition River and Ocean, Connecting Water to Life at the National Science and Technology Fair 2021 which will be held during 9 – 19 November 2021, the biggest fair of the year in science and technology in Thailand. Read more

  • Seeker
  • June 24th, 2021

The Genius Generation

Listen to Anna on The Genius Generation PodCast Read more

  • Mission Magazine
  • May 27th, 2021

Youth Series

Anna was listed in Mission Magazine's youth series Read more

  • ISEF
  • May 20th, 2021

Regeneron ISEF

Anna won the 3rd place in Regeneron ISEF 2021 Read more

  • MSEF
  • May 4th, 2021

Massachusett Science Engineering Fair

Anna won the grand prize of Mass Science Fair – Sanofi Genzyme Award. As a freshman, Anna is the youngest person to receive this distinction Read more

  • junior science and humanities symposium
  • April 20th, 2021

JSHS National Finalist

Anna won Second Place and National Finalist for oral presentation Read more

  • Region IV Science Fair
  • Mar 6th, 2021

Region IV Science Fair

Anna won First Place in Massachusetts Region IV Science Fair, and qualified for ISEF 2021 Read more

  • BYUTV
  • Summer, 2021

Operation Awesome

Read more

  • Diversity In Action
  • Summer, 2020

20 Under 20 Young Innovators

Read more

  • Barron Prize
  • July 28, 2020

Young Heroes Summit 2020

On July 28 at 1pm ET, the Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes presents a virtual Young Heroes Summit that brings together past winners ... Read more

  • Water World
  • April 6, 2020

The Drop: Young Hero Spreads Awareness of Microplastics Pollution

An extraordinary eighth grader has made it her mission ... Read more

  • We Day
  • Feburary, 2020

Anna has been selected to be featured in the WE DAY BROADCAST of 2020!

Read more

  • Feb 1, 2020

Read more

  • Broadcom Masters
  • September 18, 2019

Top 30 Finalist of 2019 Broadcom Master! Again!

Investigating a Machine Learning Based ROV to Identify Aggregation of Marine Microplastics... Read more

  • Gloria Barron Prize
  • September 16, 2019

Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heros

...Anna invented a Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) that detects microplastics on the ocean floor. She has also created the Deep Plastics Initiative... Read more

  • Worldskills Conference
  • August 23, 2019

Keynote Speaker at 2019 Worldskills Conference

Our planet in 2050: young people's aspirations for an aware and responsible society Read more

  • Technet Czech
  • May 22, 2019

Navrhla robota a trénuje senzory. Třináctiletá programátorka se AI nebojí

...To jsou projekty, na kterých ve volném čase pracuje Anna Du... Read more

  • Czech Innovation Week
  • May 22, 2019

keynote speaker at Czech Innovation Week 2019

Anna Du is the keynote speaker at Czech Innovation Week 2019 Read more

  • May 11, 2019

Grand Prize of 2019 Massachusetts Science Fair

Read more

  • LeadLikeGirl
  • April, 2019

Keynote Speaker at LeadLikeGirl Conference

Anna was selected as Keynote speaker at LeadLikeGirl Conference ... Read more

  • Stanford MAHB
  • Dec 27, 2018

Saving Our Oceans is My Planetary Duty: A MAHB Dialogue with 12-year-old Emerging Scientist

Anna Du has been named one of the top ten students in the US, by 3M’s America’s Young Scientist Challenge, as well as being selected students... Read more

  • Huffington Post
  • Dec 3, 2018

A Huge Mystery About Ocean Plastics Remains Unsolved

...A 7th grader has taken a stab at creating such technology. Anna Du ... Read more

  • Smithsonion
  • Oct 23, 2018

Anna Du was walking along Castle Island’s beach in South Boston when she noticed plastic scattered on the ... Read more

  • Cheddar TV
  • Oct 16, 2018

A 7th Grade Scientist Is on Mission to Clean Our Oceans

Anna Du built a robot to help remove the 150 million metric tons of plastic waste from our oceans. She joins CBN to discuss her ambitions. Read more

  • TreeHugger
  • Oct 11, 2018

Genius 6th Grader Invents Device That Hunts for Ocean Microplastics

As one of 10 finalists of the 3M Young Scientist Challenge, 12-year-old Anna Du will now get the chance to bring her invention to the seas. Read more

  • Inverse
  • July 28, 2018

SAVE OCEANS FROM MICROPLASTICS

'She has all of the qualities — all of those essential ingredients — to be a great scientist.'... Read more

  • AccuWeather
  • Jul 17, 2018

12-year-old engineer invents device to combat ocean microplastic pollution

Saving the planet’s oceans from plastic pollution isn’t on the agenda of a typical 12-year-old. However... Read more

  • EcoWatch
  • Jun 28, 2018

12-Year-Old Girl Invents Plastic-Detecting Robot to Save Our Oceans

For 12-year-old Anna Du a love of the ocean and marine animals inspired her to build a device that hunts for microplastics... Read more

Videos

For my latest videos, please visit my YouTube Channel

Museum of Science
Upworthy Voices
Upcycle a Trash CD player
All About Pyrolysis
World Oceans Week
Operation Awesome Season 1
Operation Awesome Season 1
Operation Awesome Season 1
What are Ocean Microplastics?
Chicken Surprise!
Makin' Chicks With Anna!
Anna updates her book
Watch Anna talk about her ROV
The big problems with microplastics
working with publisher, Tumblehome, Inc
Anna Du talks about science fairs
Unipetrol (Czech) interview
Worldskill Conferences panelist
Kelly Clarkson Show
60 Seconds Documentary
Designer Squad
KickStarter
Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes
3M Young Scientist Challenge Final
Chaddar TV/Big News

Competitions

Junior Science and Humanities Symposium 2022

First Place in New England

Mass Science Engineering Fair 2021

Grand Prize

Regeneron ISEF 2021

3rd Place

Junior Science and Humanities Symposium 2021

National Finalist

Broadcom Masters 2019

Broadcom Masters 2019 Finalist

Broadcom Masters 2018

Broadcom Masters 2018 Finalist

3M Discovery Young Scientist Challenge 2018

Top 10 in YSC

Get in touch

Email

annadu@annadu.org

Address

Phillips Academy, 180 Main ST, Andover, MA 01810

GitHub

annadu5

Welcome to Anna's Website

Anna Du

Anna Du is a high school student in Massachusetts. She is a nationally recognized advocate for microplastics awareness and pollution prevention. Her interest in saving the ocean from plastics pollution has lead to her becoming the top-rated female middle schooler in science fairs in the country, as she has placed first in her state science and engineering fair, became a national Broadcom MASTERS finalist twice, and was named a Top Ten Young Scientist in the US, by Discovery Education and 3M. Her works have been featured by WGBH, Huffington Post, FOX 25 News, Fast Company and Smithsonian Magazine. News about her achievements have been translated to numerous languages around the world. Her goal is to spread the word not only about the dangers of microplastics in our environment, but also about the ways to mitigate this problem. Anna is calling on young people everywhere to become STEM literate, to use their knowledge to help solve world problems that will face their generation as they get older, and to prevent further damage to the climate and the environment to help preserve Earth for generations to come.

Ocean

The ocean fills up over 70% of Earth’s surface.

Plastics

Plastics are synthetic polymers that can take hundreds of years to break down in the ocean.

Infrared

Infrared spectroscopy is commonly used by recycling companies to clean up plastics.

8M Tonnes

Of plastics dumped into the ocean annually

100,000

Marine animals die every year because of plastics

1862

First piece of plastic invented

3.8

Barrels of Crude Oil conserved whenever you recycle