🧪 SCIENCE CASTLE PROJECT FORM
TEAM PROFILE
Team Name: Project W.S
Team Members: Ryan, V. Tasarataan, Mahad
School/Institution: [Insert School Name Here]
Country: [Insert Country Here]
🧭 PROJECT TITLE
Project W.S – Whale Shark-Inspired Water Waste Cleaner
🧠 RESEARCH BACKGROUND
Biomimicry is the practice of drawing inspiration from nature to solve human challenges
and create sustainable innovations. The term originates from the Greek words bios (life)
and mimesis (imitation). Inspired by the whale shark — the largest filter feeder on Earth —
we aim to address water pollution by mimicking its natural filtration system.
❓ RESEARCH QUESTION / PROBLEM
How can we design an eco-friendly water cleaning device that mimics the whale shark's
filtration system to effectively remove waste from polluted water bodies?
🎯 PURPOSE / OBJECTIVES
- Mimic whale shark filtration to remove waste from rivers/lakes
- Separate and process recyclable and organic waste
- Promote sustainable waste management
- Improve aquatic ecosystem health
🧬 HYPOTHESIS
If we design a filtration device based on the whale shark’s cross-flow filtration, then we can
efficiently clean water while protecting aquatic life.
🧪 MATERIALS & EQUIPMENT
- Biodegradable plastic (for structure prototype)
- AI-powered camera (for wildlife detection)
- Waste compartment modules
- Blades for debris processing
- Remote-control system
- Motors and sensors
PROCEDURE / METHOD
- Study whale shark feeding mechanism (cross-flow filtration).
- Design prototype inspired by whale shark body shape and mouth mechanism.
- Integrate AI camera to detect and avoid aquatic animals.
- Create internal system to separate waste:
- Recyclables → sent to recycling facilities
- Organic waste → converted to fertilizer
- Test and improve based on material availability and mechanical function.
🔬 OBSERVATION / ANALYSIS
- Whale sharks efficiently filter plankton without harming marine life.
- Real-world technologies like sharkskin-inspired surfaces show how biomimicry improves
design performance.
- Urban and industrial areas suffer high water pollution, validating our target zones.
✅ RESULTS / FINDINGS
- A whale shark-inspired design is feasible for waste separation and filtration.
- AI technology can help protect aquatic life during operation.
- Filtered waste can generate revenue (recyclables + fertilizer).
- Supports 3 SDGs: Clean Water (6), Responsible Consumption (12), Life Below Water (14).
🌍 SOCIAL IMPLEMENTATION
Target Areas: Polluted rivers/lakes in urban and industrial areas
Environmental Benefits:
- Cleaner waterways
- Healthier aquatic ecosystems
- Reduced waterborne diseases
Economic Plan:
- Partner with NGOs (e.g., WWF, The Ocean Cleanup)
- Sell recyclables and fertilizer
🧱 CHALLENGES / LIMITATIONS
- Limited access to advanced materials
- Technical difficulties in AI/waste separation integration
- Risk of equipment damage
- Time and funding constraints
- Inexperience with robotics/mechanics
📌 CONCLUSION
Project W.S seeks to revolutionize waterway cleaning by merging nature’s wisdom and
human innovation. Mimicking the whale shark, our eco-machine aims to filter water
efficiently, support marine life, and turn waste into a sustainable resource — one step
toward a cleaner, greener planet.
