Hunt for the Plastic Eaters

Science Gallery Melbourne throws down the gauntlet and sets an ambitious challenge: can we find a new plastic-eating bacteria in Australia? This project asks citizen scientists to culture bacteria in the search for a new species that could solve our plastic waste dilemma.

The lid has been lifted on human wastefulness, but what next? Science Gallery Melbourne delves into an ever-growing mountain of garbage to find innovative opportunities within our consumerist behaviour, through their third sci-art pop-up season DISPOSABLE.

For National Science Week, we’re throwing down the gauntlet and sets an ambitious challenge: can we find a new plastic-eating bacteria in Australia? Building on the research of Japanese plastic-eating bacteria expert Dr Shosuke Yoshida, and working with biohacking group BioQuisitive, this project takes Melbourne’s new science engagement initiative for young people Australia-wide, asking citizen scientists to culture bacteria in the search for a new species that could solve our plastic waste dilemma.

Join the team trying to find Australia’s Next Top Plastic-Eating Bacteria!