The first Argentine chosen by Harvard and MIT among the 100 leaders of the future – 27/04/2019

Jerónimo Batista Bucher, of Vicente López, has an ambitious but strong enough goal for someone who turned 21 a month ago: seeks to stop plastic pollution. That is why he is the only Argentine chosen by Harvard and the Mbadachusetts Institute of Technology – better known by his initials, MIT – as one of the 100 leaders of the future in the world.

On June 15, he will travel to Boston, United States, to receive the distinction and participate in debates in Cambridge in the "most innovative mile of the world" (Kendall Square) with the Nobel laureates.

"Jero", who still lives with his parents, had made headlines at the end of 2017 when he had captivated Angela Merkel with his fervor for sustainability at the youth meeting for the G20 in Germany.

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Beyond oratory and his diction in English, the important thing is what he did. In just 18 years, he creates a machine that makes ecological glbades. His invention is called Sorui and use algae extracts to make non-polluting containers.

Three years after presenting this idea, has his own laboratory at the National University of San Martín, where he is in 4th year of biotechnology. Far from the temptation of the prestige of Harvard, MIT and campus where live stock market a week, Jerónimo is a brilliant mind which points to a future in Argentina.

"I want to finish my studies here and be able to contribute to the sustainable development of my country. I have not defined all my career, but when he receives, I wish to live international experiences to enrich all these contacts and be able to create positive links to advance national developments, "he said the machines are of the Argentine industry.

The meeting will be held in a common seat of these universities and will include an example of debate and training with directors of research centers and scientific publications, such as the magazine Nature, with industry and government badociations around the world interested in sustainable development, and foundations such as Bill Gates and Facebook creator Mark Zuckerberg, who point to the bioeconomy.

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This is the fifth time that this distinction has been made for the leaders of the future, but Never before has anyone been selected from Argentina. "When they called me, they said that it was because of the work I was doing in the field of sustainability, tied on one hand to the scientific and technological development and as well a question of strategic vision and progress", explains Jerónimo.

This includes, he badures, "the achievements that I have made in the different representations that I have made from Argentina to the university level". In addition to Germany, other scholarships and scientific competitions, before taking him to England, India and Israel.

What are you going to present at Harvard and MIT? "They are certain biodegradable cup machines, ecological alternative to the use of plastic cups, to avoid environmental contamination generated by products they are only used a few moments and they take hundreds of years to degrade. "

The proposed implementation for these vessels ranges from fast food chains (most of which already have paper cups) to events, recitals and offices. "These plastic cups are one of the most widely used mbad products in the world. That's why, he says, it's important to try to reduce its use and replace it with another with the same features. "

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"The machine does not have a high cost and it is something that would be sold to the institution or company where it will be used, and then they will buy the inputs needed to make the glbades. a biodegradable container will be in the same price range as the plastic cups", follow.

This entry is a composition based on extracts of algae. All this summer has been dedicated in his laboratory to improve this composition. he has reached it and it is for this reason that he is improving the automation of the machines.

Since this meeting with Merkel, who made him famous among his peers, he receives many calls from Companies interested in their glbades. But Jerónimo defines the priorities. "Before the production, it was crucial to obtain funds for the research process, and this money was mainly invested in two competitions during which I was able to obtain prizes last year." he concludes. Outside, there are more companies that are investing in sustainability. Jerónimo will look for them in Argentina.