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Fionn Ferreira

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Fionn Ferreira
Headshot of Fionn Ferreira on the Irish Coastline, July 2021
Born2000 or 2001 (age 23–24)[1]
Ballydehob, Ireland
NationalityIrish
Websitehttps://www.fionnferreira.com/

Fionn Miguel Eckardt Ferreira (from Ballydehob, County Cork, Ireland) is an Irish inventor, chemistry student and Forbes 30 under 30 listee. He is known for his invention of a method to remove microplastic particles from water using a natural ferrofluid mixture.[2]

Early life

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Fionn Ferreira, whose full name is Fionn Miguel Eckardt Ferreira,[3] was born in Cork to boat-builder and modeller Anne Eckardt, from Germany and West Cork,[4] and boat-builder Rui Ferreira from Portugal, who had met in the UK in 1994 and settled in Ballydehob, County Cork.[5][6] He was brought up in Ballydehob and attended St James' primary school in Durrus and subsequently Schull Community College in Schull, completing school at the age of 18 in 2019.[1]

Ferreira spent part of his childhood kayaking around remote coastal areas of Ireland with his dog India, noticing an increasing amount of plastic washing up on the coastline. He created a methodology to quantify and collect plastic pollution, with a focus on microplastics. He built several inventions using LEGO, bits of wood and some microcontrollers to test for these microplastics.[7] He entered the national science fair, the BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition, three times, with two of his projects being Let Sanils do the cleaning, An investigation into the antioxidant concentration of different berries using the Briggs-Rauscher reaction in conjunction with a photometer and An investigation into the removal of microplastics from water using ferrofluids.[8] Ferreira worked as a curator at Schull's planetarium.[9]

Microplastic removal technology

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Ferreira is best known for inventing a novel method to remove microplastics from water using magnetism. The technology, which he began developing as a teenager in rural Ireland, involves the use of a magnetic ferrofluid that binds to microplastic particles, allowing them to be extracted from water using a standard magnet. Ferreira stated that the idea was inspired by a 2014 article by Fermilab physicist Arden Warner, who developed a magnetic approach for oil spill remediation.[10]

After hundreds of experiments and refinements, Ferreira developed a working prototype with microplastic extraction rates of up to 87% (+/- 1.1%), with the highest efficiency recorded for polyester-based particles.[11] His approach specifically targets microplastics that conventional filtration systems struggle to remove, particularly very small particles.

He first exhibited the project at the 2018 Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition in Ireland, where he received the Intel Award, Best in Category, the Intellectual Ventures Award, and a first-place prize.[12]

Fionn Ferreira performing his microplastic removal method.

Later that year, he competed at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) 2018, receiving the 1st place American Chemical Society award, 2nd place in Chemistry, and additional honors.[11]

In 2019, Ferreira showcased an improved version at the Google Science Fair, winning the Grand Prize of $50,000 for his innovation.[12]

Following these successes, Ferreira co-founded Fionn & Co., collaborating with the Green Journey Coalition to scale up the technology. Together, they have developed a **continuous flow prototype** capable of processing contaminated water in real time, a critical advancement toward industrial and municipal deployment.[13] Unlike earlier batch methods, this system operates continuously, making it more efficient and suitable for integration into wastewater treatment plants.

As of 2025, Fionn & Co. and the Green Journey Coalition are actively raising funds to develop a **full-scale commercial prototype**. Their goal is to deploy the technology globally, targeting both municipal wastewater facilities and coastal remediation projects.[14][15]

Ferreira has emphasized that the focus is not just on extraction efficiency but also on sustainability, ensuring the system uses minimal energy, is made from recycled materials where possible, and can be deployed globally at accessible cost.[15]

His work remains central to international efforts to integrate microplastic removal into sustainable water systems and promote broader ocean health initiatives.

Education

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In autumn 2019, Ferreira began a BSc in Chemistry at the University of Groningen in the Netherlands and graduated in 2022 with Cum Laude honors.[16] [17]

He is currently pursuing an MSc in Chemistry at the University of Groningen. As part of his master's studies, Ferreira conducted a research project in the molecular inorganic chemistry group of Professor Edwin Otten, focusing NMR for organic Redox Flow Batteries.[18]

In 2023, he participated in a field-based project in Arctic chemical oceanography at the University Centre in Svalbard (UNIS), investigating the biogeochemical processes influencing plastic degradation and pollutant transport in polar marine environments.[19]

In 2025, Ferreira began a second MSc research project at ETH Zurich, working in the laboratory of Professor Alexander Barnes. His work focuses on the development of high-temperature superconducting (HTS) magnets for nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), with an emphasis on sustainable instrumentation and improving energy efficiency in scientific research.[20]

Business

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In 2020, Ferreira founded a business, Fionn & Co., focused on microplastic removal technology.[21][22] In 2020 and 2021 his work was featured by the global campaign by Hewlett-Packard: For every dream.[23]

Recognition

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In 2018, the MIT Lincoln Laboratory named a minor planet after Ferreira, following his being awarded 2nd place at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair.[9]

In 2021, he was named a National Geographic Society Young Explorer; he has since been working on a new platform for youth in the space of invention with the help of funding from the society.[24]

That same year, he was included in the Forbes 30 Under 30 list in the Science and Healthcare category.[22]

In September 2021, Ferreira received the Premio Internazionale Giuseppe Sciacca award for his conservation and ecological efforts.[25]

Fionn Ferreira ChangeNOW 2025

Ferreira has spoken at several international forums, including:[26]

Ferreira has received several awards and recognitions:[26]

Television

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In 2024, Ferreira began presenting *What’s Next? Science*, an educational television series on RTÉ designed to engage children and young adults with the future of science and sustainability. The show, aired as part of RTÉ Kids programming, features Ferreira exploring topics such as climate innovation, clean energy, ocean science, and space, while encouraging viewers to think critically and creatively about solving global challenges.[28]

The series blends interactive demonstrations, storytelling, and guest appearances by scientists and changemakers to highlight the power of youth innovation and science communication. It was well received for its accessible approach to complex topics and its positive representation of young scientists.[29]

References

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  1. ^ a b Quann, Jack. "Cork student wins Google Science Fair in California". Newstalk. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
  2. ^ "Fionn Ferreira – Finalist, Young Inventors Prize 2023". European Patent Office. 2023. Retrieved 29 April 2025.
  3. ^ "Intel ISEF 2018 Special Awards Organization Profile". student.societyforscience.org. Archived from the original on 8 November 2019.
  4. ^ Butler, Kate (23 November 2014). "This is what I do - Anke Eckardt, model builder". The Sunday Times. Retrieved 16 August 2021. I was born in Germany and my parents moved to the Ballydehob area of west Cork in 1980, when I was nine, ...met my partner, Rui Ferreira, in England and we both moved back to west Cork. We were boat builders ... my son Fionn
  5. ^ "West Cork Boats". West Cork Boats. Retrieved 16 August 2021. We met at the International Boatbuilding Training College in England in 1994, where we obtained our City and guilds in wooden boatbuilding.
  6. ^ "Irish Teen's Magnetic Solution To Ocean Microplastic Problem Nets Major Google Science Prize". Afloat (afloat.ie). Dublin, Ireland. 30 July 2019. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  7. ^ "Fionn wins again – on home soil". The Southern Star. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
  8. ^ "One of world's top young scientists among Cork students collecting results". echo live. 13 August 2019. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
  9. ^ a b "Google prize for West Cork student who found eco-friendly way to remove microplastics from water". The Irish Times. 29 July 2019. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
  10. ^ Armitage, Hanae (30 July 2014). "Accelerator physicist invents new way to clean up oil spills". Fermilab Today. Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory. Retrieved 15 August 2021.
  11. ^ a b "Full Abstract". abstracts.societyforscience.org. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
  12. ^ a b Nace, Trevor. "Irish Teen Wins 2019 Google Science Fair For Removing Microplastics From Water". Forbes. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
  13. ^ a b "Fionn Ferreira – ChangeNOW 2025 Speaker Details". ChangeNOW. Retrieved 29 April 2025.
  14. ^ "Sustainable productivity – how I get stuff done". Substack. Retrieved 29 April 2025.
  15. ^ a b "New Year Carbon Neutral Goals – Fionn's 2025 Plan". Substack. Retrieved 29 April 2025.
  16. ^ Boomsma, Christien (1 September 2019). "The boy wonder who will save us from plastic". UKrant.nl. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
  17. ^ Ferreira, Fionn (25 November 2022). "I have graduated with a BSc in Chemistry from the University of Groningen with a Cum Laude". Instagram. Retrieved 25 March 2023.
  18. ^ "Fionn Ferreira LinkedIn Profile". LinkedIn. Retrieved 29 April 2025.
  19. ^ "Fionn Ferreira – Arctic chemical oceanography experience". Substack. Retrieved 29 April 2025.
  20. ^ "Sustainable productivity – how I get stuff done". Substack. Retrieved 29 April 2025.
  21. ^ "Fionn Ferreira | and& 2021". www.andleuven.com. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
  22. ^ a b "Fionn Ferreira". Forbes. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
  23. ^ "HP's Best - Premium Quality, High Performance Laptops for 2020". www8.hp.com. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
  24. ^ "The Ocean Plastics Pollution Solutions Contest". National Geographic Society. 20 November 2020. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
  25. ^ "Bando e Brochure 2021". Premio Internazionale Giuseppe Sciacca (in Italian). Retrieved 12 October 2021.
  26. ^ a b Fleming, Sean (17 January 2020). "Meet the teen science star using magnetic liquid to remove microplastics from water". World Economic Forum.
  27. ^ "Quantum Delta NL Masterclass 2025 - Speaker Lineup". Quantum Delta NL. Retrieved 29 April 2025.
  28. ^ "RTÉ Kids – What's Next? Science". RTÉ Learn. 12 November 2024. Retrieved 29 April 2025.
  29. ^ "What's Next? Science – Official Trailer". YouTube. RTÉ. Retrieved 29 April 2025.
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