When he was 10 years old, an Earth Day presentation at school and a look at trash on the beach set Abhith Kasala on a path to study microplastics.  Now, six years later, he is set to speak at the United Nations Science Summit about his research on microplastics, in a session. 

“I really believe that understanding the problem is half the solution,” Kasala said. “And with that motto, I’ve been able to, for the past six years, work on different projects in the environment, biology and engineering fields, and I’ve been able to develop those sustainable solutions.” 

Kasala’s research started small, examining global plastic pollution and sustainable water filtration systems. He wanted to understand how plastic’s chemistry differed from other materials, why it takes so long to degrade, and how he could develop a solution to recycle plastics more efficiently. 

To that end, Kasala worked with chemical recycling plants in California to see how his solution could work in the real world, on an industrial scale. His work won him first place at the State Science and Engineering Fair, and he was recognized among the top 300 middle school competitors in the Society for Science’s 2022 Broadcom MASTERS competition. 

The project also won accolades from NASA and the Sierra Club of Florida. 

By the time he was entering high school, Kasala had discovered an interest in biology and healthcare and had honed the scope of his research to fit that interest. He began using zebrafish embryos, which share 70% of the same genetic structure as humans, to analyze the effects of microplastics. 

Kasala found that microplastics, tiny bits of plastic that are found in air, food and water, had harmful effects on the zebrafish embryos, causing negative changes to their shape and spinal curvature, and irregularities and mutations at the genetic level. He found links between microplastics and cancer and diseases in the brain and pancreas. 

Kasala, a junior at Gainesville High School, presented his project at various competitions, winning third place at the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair in the Earth and Environmental Science Division. He won the Florida Water Environment Association’s (FWEA) Stockholm Junior Water Prize in 2023. 

Over the years, Kasala said his time management has improved as he learned to balance schoolwork, research and extracurriculars. He said his mother, who first helped ignite his “spark of curiosity,” has also supported him the whole way. 

Kasala said the UN must have seen his research at the conferences and competitions he has been featured in and reached out to invite him to speak at the Science Summit. 

“I’m definitely excited, not really nervous, because I feel that just a great opportunity,” Kasala said. “It’s like a dream to be able to present to such a vast audience. It’s such a global scale, there’s delegates, world leaders, policymakers and other scientists there, so I’m really hoping to broaden the impact of my project and solutions.” 

Kasala said his field is ever-expanding as microplastics get smaller and more common, but all this makes his work more rewarding as he looks into solutions for developing countries, as well as those which already have the expensive infrastructure to clean up their water. 

Working on his research at the University of Florida, Kasala said he has been working on two novel, affordable solutions for developing countries, using Moringa seed powder. 

The powder is a natural coagulant native to multiple places, usually tropical regions of Asia and Africa. Kasala said it acts like a magnet to microplastics, making it an effective water treatment. 

Kasala said he has developed a system to use the powder on a community level, in a way that is 10-20 times cheaper than other treatments. A second solution, he said, is to use the Moringa powder in the form of a biodegradable packet for on-the-go use. 

Kasala said he has been working a little with NASA, the Environmental Protection Agency and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and hopes for further progress in collaboration with them. 

For people outside of such organizations and agencies, Kasala said reducing use of single-use plastic to depend on more sustainable options, is important. 

“With the right actions and solutions, I think we can help clean up our environment and protect the future of our planet,” Kasala said. “And I think the time to take action is now.” 

Kasala’s talk at the UN is set for about 9:30 a.m. on Friday, according to Alachua County Public Schools spokesperson Jackie Johnson. The livestream can be found at https://sciencesummitunga.vfairs.com/en/login. Attendance is free, but viewers must register.