Wisconsin Alumni Association recognizes "Dr. Microplastics" for embodying Wisconsin Idea
The Wisconsin Alumni Association has honored former Wisconsin Energy Institute graduate student Derek Ho with a Forward Award.
Ho, who received his PhD in 2024 and is now a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Pennsylvania, is one of six young alumni to receive this year's awards, which acknowledge "rising stars in various fields who exemplify the Wisconsin Idea through an emphasis on service, discovery, and progress."
Ho first worked with WEI as an undergraduate, helping with research on the use of white rot fungus to treat biomass.
Later, as a member of Troy Runge's lab, Ho researched ways to identify and quantify tiny bits of plastic, also known as microplastics, that can end up in fields by way of wastewater treatment plants. While at WEI, he helped the education and outreach team develop a hands-on teaching kit called Plastic Panic! based on his research.
The Alumni Association cites Ho's ongoing efforts to expand the reach and impact of his work, noting his contributions to the Philly Emerging Contaminants Initiative service on the emerging contaminants community within the Water Environment Federation.
With a knack for translating complex science into knowledge people can use to understand and respond to environmental changes, Ho — known on social media as "Dr. Microplastics" — has also founded Plastic-Free Pals, a platform bringing together citizen science, education, and community action.
Read the full story on the Wisconsin Alumni Association website.
