Nigerian zoologist Bede Izuchukwu dedicates his study to the worrying presence of plastics in aquatic environments, especially harmful fragments such as microplastics and nanoplastics. Focusing on a watershed essential for supplying Rio de Janeiro, the Guandu River, Izuchukwu analyzes the water flow, the size of plastic debris and the eating habits of aquatic organisms to understand how plastics migrate in the river—a fundamental study to create solutions capable of mitigating watershed pollution.

A native of Oraukwu, Anambra State, Izuchukwu holds a bachelor’s degree in zoology from Nnamdi Azikiwe University, where he graduated as the best student in the department. He obtained a master’s degree in zoology from the University of Ibadan and completed a doctorate in zoology and environmental biology from the University of Nigeria. The zoologist has been passionate about aquatic environments since he was a child, when he spent hours in front of the TV, devouring documentaries about marine and riverside life. He is an ardent tourist of ecological areas in his spare time and is passionate about playing football. A Manchester United fanatic, Izuchukwu is also an admirer of Cristiano Ronaldo.