Fungi help clean up plastic and sunscreen: Kaiser High student wins at Hawai‘i Science Fair
Vera Wang holds an award plaque at the 2026 Hawai'i State Science and Engineering Fair.
Vera Wang, a senior at Kaiser High School, won in multiple categories at the 2026 Hawai‘i State Science & Engineering Fair for her research on fungi that can degrade plastic and sunscreen conducted in Anthony Amend’s lab in the Pacific Biosciences Research Center at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology. Her project, Bioprospecting of Novel Sunscreen- and Plastic-Degrading Fungi in Tannin-Rich Coconut Fiber, earned first place Best in Category (Microbiology), third place Best in Fair, a special award from the Friends of Hanauma Bay, a special award from Association for Women Geoscientist, and a scholarship award from the McInerny Foundation. She also qualified for the International Science & Engineering Fair, which will take place in May in Phoenix, Arizona.
“I am so grateful to have been given the opportunity to pursue my project in the Amend Lab,” said Wang, who worked closely with Kaylee Christensen, a graduate student in the Marine Biology Graduate Program. “My research would have never, ever, been possible without Anthony and Kaylee. This project has been part of a much longer journey, so having it recognized feels both surreal and deeply rewarding. It means a lot to see years of questions, redesigns, failed ideas, and persistence finally come together into something that others see value in too.”
“This work was made possible because of Vera’s vision, and it gives me such optimism about the future of science in Hawai’i,” said Amend, whose lab leverages Hawaiian microbes for conservation and natural restoration–from developing microbial “vaccines” for native plants, to understanding new ways to eradicate mosquitoes and finding ways to use fungi to clean up plastic pollution in the ocean. “I’m so proud of Vera. Her success is a testament to our public school system which is doing a wonderful job supporting and training our next generation of students. I can’t wait to see what discoveries she makes in college!”
Taking her ideas to the next level
During her sophomore year, Wang designed and built an ocean filter that removed sunscreen and microplastics from the surface water that was inspired by traditional Polynesian weaving while incorporating modern environmental science. It was not only scientifically effective, but—made entirely from coconut byproducts—it was also environmentally responsible across its full life cycle. But Wang realized that removing the pollutants from water is only part of the problem. The next challenge she considered was how to dispose of them responsibly.
“I learned that the pore structure of coconut fiber supports the movement of air and water, which can create a favorable environment for microbes,” Wang described. “That led me to wonder whether coconut husk could do more than physically capture pollutants. So this year, my research at the Amend Lab began exploring the fungal communities living in coconut husks and studying their growth and degradation abilities on sunscreen and plastic media.”
Having never conducted microbiology experiments prior to this, Wang was challenged with taking what she had learned in the classroom and translating it to the lab bench–from developing scientifically sound experiments to the analysis of the fungal DNA.
“There’s something very satisfying about seeing an idea leave your notebook and start behaving like actual science,” said Wang. “Kaylee has been incredibly patient and generous in teaching me, and every time I came into the lab, I felt like I was learning how to think more carefully, more creatively, and more like a real researcher.”
They discovered that indeed, fungi found naturally on coconut husks can biodegrade sunscreen and plastic and that a tannin compound can be used to identify sunscreen- and plastic-degrading fungi. Christensen shared that the tannins present in the fibers might be encouraging growth of these complex degraders. Additionally, their genetic testing showed that some of the fungal species did not have a match to anything in the world’s largest reference database of known genes and genomes, indicating that these may be previously uncharacterized species.
Power of mentorship
In the State of Hawai‘i, there are approximately 6,000 participants across over 100 public and private school fairs every year, with about 30% advancing to compete at one of nine District Fairs (Central, Hawaii East, Hawaii West, HAIS, Honolulu, Kauai, Leeward, Maui, Windward). The competition culminates with advancement to the Hawai‘i State Science & Engineering Fair.
When asked how she feels having won several awards at the State level, Wang shared, “I’m genuinely very grateful. More than anything, I hope this recognition encourages other public school students, especially those who may feel discouraged, not to give up on their passions. Access to resources can be unequal, and that is real. But mentorship can open doors in ways you don’t always expect. I’m especially grateful to Ms. Ronja Steinbach, Dr. Anthony Amend, and Ms. Kaylee Christensen for believing in me, opening their doors, and giving me the chance to learn. Their support has meant more to me than I can fully put into words.”
Looking ahead to the future
“These past six months have really shaped my future interests,” Wang shared. “I’ve learned that I’m especially drawn to overlooked materials and overlooked possibilities. I love the idea that innovation is not always about inventing something entirely new, but sometimes about looking more deeply at what is already around us, whether that’s coconut husk byproducts or microbial communities most people would never think twice about.”
Wang has not decided where she will be attending college in the fall but she’s sure she wants to keep exploring bioremediation and microbiology on a broader scale.
“I know I want research to remain a major part of my future,” Wang said. “Wherever I go, I hope to keep asking questions that connect science, sustainability, and imagination, and maybe continue bringing microbes along for the ride.”