Mexican Scientist Wins Top 25 Women in Science Award for Innovative Eco Solutions

Andrea Bonilla Brunner, an alumnus of the University of the Americas Puebla (UDLAP), has been honored as one of the winners of the 4th annual "25 Women in Science" award. This initiative by 3M seeks to recognize women leading groundbreaking projects in the scientific field. This year's focus was on scientists from Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, and Mexico. Bonilla is the CEO and lead scientist at BioPlaster Research, a Mexican company specializing in nanoscience and biotechnology projects.

Dr. Bonilla and her team at BioPlaster Research have been concentrating their efforts on the study and transformation of sargassum. This seaweed has become a significant issue on the Caribbean coasts due to global warming, causing substantial environmental, economic, and social problems. "Sargassum floats on the water surface, blocking oxygen and sunlight, and slightly raising the temperature. This combination is lethal to coral reefs," explained Dr. Bonilla.

The problem is further exacerbated by plastic pollution and the misuse of fertilizers in agriculture. In response, Dr. Bonilla and her team have been working on reusing sargassum. They have developed an algae biorefinery to extract commercially interesting compounds and bioplastics. These include styrofoam, films for bags and primary packaging, and thermoplastics like PET or hard and elastic polymers. They have even developed fully biodegradable plastic bags.

Dr. Bonilla's innovative approach caught the attention of 3M. Out of more than 1700 registered projects, she was recognized as one of the "25 Women in Science" for her commitment to environmental sustainability. "It's wonderful that initiatives like this exist to increase visibility. I encourage girls and women to explore science and seek out these kinds of solutions," she said. Dr. Bonilla's project, along with the other 24 recognized ideas, will be featured in a commemorative book. This recognition will significantly support BioPlaster Research in achieving its goals. Dr. Bonilla revealed that she is currently seeking investment for a pilot plant in sargassum processing and bioplastics manufacturing.