University of Adelaide PhD candidate Mel Nguyen was recognised at the latest Visualise Your Thesis (VYT) competition for her research investigating how to turn food waste into durable bioplastics.
Nguyen received the Trending on VYT award, a significant recognition for the emerging researcher.
“It’s a tremendous honour to receive this recognition. It validates the effort I put into my work for years,” said Nguyen.
“This is the biggest achievement I’ve earned since coming to Australia, and it motivates me to continue working hard and sharing my research with a broader community, demonstrating the importance of science communication.”
Visualise Your Thesis (VYT) is an international program that challenges graduate researchers to present their work in a 60-second audio-visual explainer. The program highlights global graduate research and equips participants with the skills necessary to effectively communicate complex research to a general audience.
Nguyen initially won the University of Adelaide’s VYT heat, hosted by the University Library, before going on to represent the university at the international competition, where she was awarded the Trending on VYT accolade.
Nguyen was inspired to address the dual issues of food waste and plastic pollution after observing the problem in her daily life.
“Plastic food packaging is everywhere, from ready-meal boxes you buy at the supermarket to cling wrap used for fresh produce,” she said.
“The sheer volume of single-use plastic and its environmental impact made me question if there could be a more sustainable alternative. Combined with my passion for tackling food waste, I was inspired to explore bioplastics as a potential solution.”
As outlined in her Visualise Your Thesis (VYT) video, Mel has discovered that bioplastics can be developed for a range of applications.
“Whether you need it to be highly permeable for vegetable packaging or very resistant to moisture for bakery products, the properties can be adjusted by altering the composition. This flexibility highlights the potential of bioplastics as a versatile, eco-friendly material,” said Nguyen.
Nguyen’s research is supported by the University of Adelaide and the End Food Waste Cooperative Research Centre, based at the Waite campus.
“The University of Adelaide’s advanced analytical equipment and laboratory facilities enable me to conduct high-quality experiments,” Mel says.
“Additionally, the University fosters a supportive research community, and collaborations with my supervisors and colleagues have been instrumental in refining my methodologies.”
Mel’s next goal is to commercialise her functional bioplastic made from food waste.
“Achieving commercialisation requires further refinement, scalability testing, and partnerships with industry stakeholders. With consistent progress and the right support, I hope to bring a viable product to market within the next few years,” Mel says.
“I hope this research will help consumers and industry continue the shift towards a circular economy where waste materials are repurposed into valuable resources.”