Mary Kay awards shrimp shell bioplastic second place in science and engineering fair

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In Dallas, cosmetics giant Mary Kay has awarded grants to aspiring young scientists at the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair, including a second-place award for an innovative bioplastic made from chitosan.

Madalena Filipe and Frederico Mauritty of Lisbon, Portugal came in second with HidroQapa, a waterproof bioplastic made from chitosan extracted from shrimp shell waste. The sustainable, biodegradable material could help reduce waste and environmental pollution.

First prize went to a team from Georgia for an AI-enabled app that identifies cancerous tumors.

The winners were selected from nearly 2,000 high-school-aged entrants representing almost 70 countries. In total, the nearly $10,000 in grants were awarded to students with innovative projects focused on finding cures for cancers affecting women, sustainable packaging innovation, and protecting our planet’s most valuable resources.