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11 Apr 2025
8 Min Read
Associate Professor Dr Choo Hui Leng (Academic Contributor), Dr Praveena Nair Sivasankaran (Academic Contributor)
The ocean might seem like a faraway place, especially if you live inland, but it impacts your daily life more than you may realise. Oceans produce most of the oxygen we breathe, help control the Earth’s temperature, and provide food and jobs for millions of people. Without healthy oceans, life on Earth would be completely different—and far more difficult.
But today, the oceans are under serious pressure.
Plastic pollution is one of the most visible and harmful problems. Each year, millions of tonnes of plastic end up in rivers and oceans. Some of it gets eaten by marine animals, while other pieces break down into microplastics—tiny fragments that are now being found in seafood, table salt, and even the air we breathe.
The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is a massive floating zone of plastic waste between Hawaii and California. It’s nearly five times the size of Malaysia and contains an estimated 1.8 trillion pieces of plastic—seriously threatening marine life and ocean health.
Over 11 million tonnes of plastic waste enter our oceans every year — that's roughly a truckload every minute.
Then there’s climate change, which heats up the oceans. This causes coral reefs to bleach and die, sea levels to rise, and ocean acidity to increase. These changes disrupt marine ecosystems and put countless species at risk.
Overfishing adds more stress. Taking too many fish from the sea too quickly can collapse entire food chains. Meanwhile, oil spills, chemical waste, and sewage continue to poison marine habitats and put both wildlife and people in danger.
It all sounds overwhelming—but there’s a growing movement of engineers, scientists, and innovators designing solutions to give the ocean a fighting chance.
Engineers play a powerful role in solving real-world problems, and the ocean is no exception. Across Asia and beyond, new technologies are being built to clean up pollution, rebuild habitats, and power the future in ways that protect the planet instead of harming it.
Cleaning Rivers Before They Pollute the Sea
One of the most exciting inventions is The Ocean Cleanup’s Interceptor—a solar-powered machine that floats in rivers and collects plastic waste before it ever reaches the ocean. These machines are guided by artificial intelligence (AI), work continuously, and can be deployed in high-traffic waterways.
Interceptors are already working in places like Malaysia’s Klang River, Vietnam’s Can Tho River, and Indonesia’s Cengkareng Drain. They don’t just remove rubbish—they help stop the flow of pollution at its source. Engineers designed these devices to be energy-efficient, scalable, and adaptable to different river environments.
Smarter Materials for a Cleaner Ocean
Plastic is useful but dangerous when it ends up in the wrong place. That’s why engineers in Japan are developing biodegradable plastics made from natural materials like seaweed and rice husks. These new plastics can safely break down in seawater without harming marine life.
In South Korea, engineers are creating advanced nano-membrane filters that trap microplastics in wastewater before they reach the sea. These technologies may be invisible to the eye, but their impact on marine health could be massive.
Microplastics are tiny plastic particles—often smaller than a sesame seed—that come from everyday items like bottles, food packaging, and clothing. Common types include PET, PE, PP, PMMA, and nylon. These particles are so small they can end up in the food we eat, the water we drink, and even inside our bodies.
Rebuilding Life Beneath the Waves
Coral reefs are some of the most diverse ecosystems on Earth—but they’re disappearing fast. In Thailand, engineers and marine scientists are working together to restore coral habitats using 3D printing. These artificial reefs help marine life return, protect coastlines from erosion, and provide hope for damaged ecosystems.
Closer to home, in Sapangar Bay, Sabah, engineers are helping to relocate and restore seagrass beds, which are often overlooked but vital. Seagrass absorbs carbon, shelters marine life, and helps maintain water quality. Protecting it is a key part of long-term ocean recovery.
Renewable Energy That Works With Nature
What if the ocean could power our cities? In November 2024, China connected the first part of the world’s largest offshore floating solar farm to the power grid. Located eight kilometres off Dongying City, the farm covers more than 1,200 hectares and holds nearly 3,000 floating solar platforms.
What makes it even cooler is that the space beneath the platforms is used for fish farming, combining food production with clean energy. This project shows how engineers can design systems that meet human needs while protecting the environment. Source: CHN Energy
You don’t need to be a marine biologist to help save the ocean. Engineers are making huge contributions, and you could be one of them. Here’s a quick look at how different types of engineering connect to ocean conservation:
Emerging ocean conservation technologies include AI-powered plastic detection, bioengineered enzymes that break down plastics, and deep-sea carbon sequestration. Through the EU HORIZON CUPOLA project, Taylor’s University is driving innovations in marine plastic recycling to support a circular economy.
The ocean’s future depends on the actions we take today. While the problems are serious, the possibilities are endless. Engineers aren’t just imagining a better world—they’re building it.
If you’ve ever wanted to do something meaningful, exciting, and important for the planet, engineering might be your way forward. From protecting coral reefs to designing clean energy systems, there’s a whole ocean of opportunity waiting.
Because fixing the future isn’t just a dream—it’s a job. And it could be yours.
Begin your journey with Taylor’s Foundation in Engineering and gain the skills to tackle real-world challenges. Whether it’s Mechanical, Electrical & Eletronic, Chemical, or Mechatronic Engineering, your path to innovation starts here.
