Welcome to the Evolving Folks Project’s “Evolved Man of the Week.” Each week, we highlight someone who embodies what it means to be evolved, famous or not. This week, we honor high school student and budding scientist Vera Wang.
Vera Wang is a senior at Kaiser High School who won several awards at the 2026 Hawai‘i State Science & Engineering Fair for her research on fungi that can break down plastic and sunscreen. She worked on her project, “Bioprospecting of Novel Sunscreen- and Plastic-Degrading Fungi in Tannin-Rich Coconut Fiber,” in Anthony Amend’s lab at the Pacific Biosciences Research Center, which is part of the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology. Vera earned first place in Best in Category (Microbiology), third place in Best in Fair, special awards from the Friends of Hanauma Bay and the Association for Women Geoscientists, a scholarship from the McInerny Foundation, and qualified for the International Science & Engineering Fair in May 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona.
Inspired by traditional Polynesian weaving and modern environmental science, Wang created an ocean filter in her sophomore year to clean surface water of sunscreen and microplastics. The filter worked well and was environmentally friendly because it was made only from coconut byproducts. However, Wang realized that solving water pollution is not just about removing contaminants. She also wanted to find a responsible way to dispose of them.
Researchers found that fungi on coconut husks can break down sunscreen and plastic. Tannins in the fibers help identify them, and Christensen suggests these tannins might encourage the growth of these complex degraders. Genetic tests also showed that some of these fungi are not found in the world’s largest gene and genome database, which means they could be new species.
“I learned that the pore structure of coconut fiber supports the movement of air and water, which can create a favorable environment for microbes,” … “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.”
Before this project, Wang had no experience with microbiology experiments. She found it challenging to connect what she learned in theory to real work in the lab, such as designing good experiments and analyzing fungal DNA.
The Evolving Folks Project celebrates Vera Wang’s talent and her work addressing a major global problem. Our oceans are struggling with climate change and pollution. Today, we honor Vera Wang as our Evolved Person of the Week.
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