From Research to Reality: Implementing Innovative Ideas on Plastics Recycling

 

Ogulshirin Tacheva is a fifth-year biotechnology student at the Oguz Han Engineering and Technology University of Turkmenistan, and a recent winner of the Youth4Climate: Sparking Solutions flagship event 2023 held in Rome, Italy on 17-19 October 2023. Presenting her innovative research on the use of recycled materials in everyday life, Ogulshirin was awarded the top place in the Solution in the Urban Development category, and has received a grant to continue her research. Learn more about her winning research here!

 

- Thank you for joining us, Ogulshirin. Would you share how you first became interested in environmental sciences and sustainable waste management?

When I was studying at school, I was very interested in biology and ecology. For that reason, in 2018, I was able to enter the specialty “Ecology and use of nature” at the University of Engineering and Technologies, which is named after Oguz Han of Turkmenistan. From my  first  year, I enrolled in the “Ecological Biotechnology” club at our university, which further fueled my interest in climate science and inspired me to initiate several works in the field of water purification and waste processing, also focusing on plastic waste.

- Can you share with us some information about the science behind your project from the Youth4Climate: Sparking Solutions flagship event, and how you developed the idea?

Environmental pollution with plastic waste is one of the most important global problems facing us today. The production of plastic is increasing day by day. As we know, gasoline is used to make plastic, so it was thought that it would be possible to reverse the process and recover that fuel. My scientific work is “Waste free plastic recycling technology”. The Youth4Climate event helped me to tell the world about my idea - to literally help my voice be heard by youth all across the world. It has been an incredible opportunity to transform my idea from paper to reality and to explore its benefits for the environment and for people.

= What do you hope to achieve with your project and your research now that you have won the Youth4Climate event?

For four years, I have been doing research on plastic waste recycling. My work was not going well at first, but after a while I managed to improve and I began to get good results. Over the years, I have participated in several contests and won some decent places! Of course, this continues to motivate me to keep moving forward to improve and grow.  Because of this unique opportunity of the Youth4Climate event, I am planning to set up a mini factory for plastic waste recycling in my country, which will help to test my research proposal and prove its positive impact for the environment. 

- How do you see the impacts of climate change, and how do you see your role as a woman in science in combating it?

Of course, I worry about climate change. This is a critical problem that leads to the degradation of agricultural land, desertification, harm to biodiversity and the spread of infectious diseases. I consider it the duty of each of us to find a solution to this problem, no matter whether you are a woman or a man! I have a favorite quote: “Don’t say you can’t do it just because you, as a woman, face challenges.” We, as women scientists, can - and must - play an important role in finding solutions to climate change towards a sustainable future for all. Just believe in yourself and everything will work out.

My project wasn’t perfect at first! There were a few problems; for example, the device I built for the experiment broke, or there were issues with the plastic collection! My family and friends supported me in dealing with these issues.

- Have you faced any challenges as a woman in environmental science? How have you overcome those challenges?

If you set a goal and do everything to achieve it, in our country there are no obstacles for women to engage in science! Not all members of the society believe that women and girls should be active in science, but I think with our commitment and impressive results, we can destroy that stereotype and prove to everyone that we are active contributors to the country’s economy and climate change action. It is up to you to choose your path!

- What advice would you give to girls and young women who would like to follow a similar path?

If you want to do something, first gather all the information about that topic and study it well, then try to find a solution. After you find the solution by theory, try it in practice! It will not happen the first time, it will not happen the second time. But each time you try, you get a little better, so keep going all the way to the end! It might just happen on the third attempt! Don't let doubt dim your light. Always believe in yourself and follow your dreams!

 

Ogulshirin Tacheva is a member of the STEM4ALL STEMinist network. You can read more inspiring stories, find employment and education opportunities, and discover useful resources by exploring the STEM4ALL platform.