CA Student Contributes to Research on Plastic Pollution in Aquatic Ecosystems
ϳԹ senior Albert Shing King Zhou ’27 is putting CA’s mission of building a “more just and sustainable future” into practice. Combining his passion for science with a long-standing commitment to conservation, he has contributed to research investigating how plastic pollution affects the microorganisms in our waterways.
As head of CA’s Marine Conservation Club, Albert has long been interested in protecting aquatic ecosystems. Growing up in coastal Hong Kong, he frequently participated in beach cleanups. The experience inspired him to pursue an internship in the science department at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, where he began exploring the complex environmental challenges facing bodies of water.
Over the past two years, during summer and winter breaks, he worked with professor Changchao Li and his research team to investigate the plastisphere in water, the communities of microorganisms that live on plastic surfaces. “This project allowed me to apply science locally to help my community and make a real impact,” Albert says.
His work contributed to the article “Unraveling the coastal marine plastisphere archaeome,” published in the journal . The study examined how plastic debris in coastal waters creates a habitat for archaea, a group of microorganisms.
By comparing plastic samples with surrounding seawater, researchers found that plastic supports distinct and more diverse archaeal communities. Some of these microorganisms play roles in processing methane, nitrogen, and sulfur. The findings suggest that plastic pollution may disrupt the microbial balance in marine environments, influence nutrient cycling, and affect the natural processes that regulate greenhouse gases.
The research also raised broader questions about the microorganisms living on plastic, including fungi. While bacteria in these environments have been extensively studied, less is known about the role fungi play in plastic-associated microbial communities. Researchers are particularly interested in understanding whether some of these fungi exhibit resistance to antifungal medications, potentially posing risks to human health, agriculture, and ecosystems.
Throughout the project, Albert contributed to sample collection, laboratory work, and co-authoring the scientific paper. He collected specimens from bodies of water in close proximity to CA’s campus, including Walden Pond, Chestnut Hill Lake, the Charles River, and Crystal Lake, as well as at beaches in Hong Kong and Qingdao, China, allowing the team to investigate microbial communities across different geographic regions.
Albert drew on the scientific foundation he developed at CA, applying skills he had learned in his chemistry courses. These included spectroscopy, which he used to examine samples and determine the presence of plastic. Having practiced using this technique in an organic chemistry class with Science Department Head Will Tucker, Albert was able to approach laboratory work with confidence. He says Tucker’s encouragement and hands-on teaching style helped prepare him for the challenges of a professional research environment.
The project also introduced Albert to new technologies, including shotgun metagenomic sequencing, which uses DNA fragments to help identify the organisms present in a sample. He says working alongside university researchers taught him the importance of learning new processes and remaining curious. He valued the collaborative team environment, where researchers supported one another as they worked together to navigate complex experiments.
The experience has strengthened Albert’s interest in STEM and helped shape his plans for the future. “I would like to study biology in college to build on this experience,” he says. The research has shown him how the scientific skills he develops in the classroom can directly contribute to addressing real-world challenges.
