Bharatwiki Socrates: Created page with "{{Short description|Dutch inventor and founder of The Ocean Cleanup}} {{Infobox person | name = Boyan Slat | image = Boyan Slat (2018).jpg | caption = Boyan Slat in 2018 | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1994|7|27|df=yes}}{{cite web |url=https://theoceancleanup.com/boyan-slat/ |title=Boyan Slat website |date=8 December 2014 |access-date=5 November 2021}} | birth_place = Delft, Nether..."

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Created page with "{{Short description|Dutch inventor and founder of The Ocean Cleanup}} {{Infobox person | name = Boyan Slat | image = Boyan Slat (2018).jpg | caption = Boyan Slat in 2018 | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1994|7|27|df=yes}}<ref name="SlatWebsite">{{cite web |url=https://theoceancleanup.com/boyan-slat/ |title=Boyan Slat website |date=8 December 2014 |access-date=5 November 2021}}</ref> | birth_place = Delft, Nether..."

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{{Short description|Dutch inventor and founder of The Ocean Cleanup}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Boyan Slat
| image = Boyan Slat (2018).jpg
| caption = Boyan Slat in 2018
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1994|7|27|df=yes}}<ref name="SlatWebsite">{{cite web |url=https://theoceancleanup.com/boyan-slat/ |title=Boyan Slat website |date=8 December 2014 |access-date=5 November 2021}}</ref>
| birth_place = [[Delft]], Netherlands
| occupation = Inventor, entrepreneur
| known_for = [[The Ocean Cleanup]]
| awards = [[Thiel Fellowship]], [[Champions of the Earth]] (2014)
| website = {{URL|https://theoceancleanup.com/boyan-slat/}}
}}

'''Boyan Slat''' (born 27 July 1994)<ref name="wiwo20140724">{{cite web | language = de | first = Tobias | last = Finger | url = http://green.wiwo.de/the-ocean-cleanup-dieser-student-will-die-weltmeere-vom-plastikmuell-befreien/ | title = The Ocean – Dieser Student will die Weltmeere Plastikmüll befreie | trans-title = The Ocean: This student wants to rid the seas of plastic waste | department = Umwelt [environment] | publisher = [[Wirtschaftswoche#WiWo Green|WiWo Green]] | date = 24 June 2014 | access-date = 25 October 2014 | archive-date = 3 March 2016 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160303204849/http://green.wiwo.de/the-ocean-cleanup-dieser-student-will-die-weltmeere-vom-plastikmuell-befreien/ | url-status = dead }}</ref><ref name="bw20140916">{{cite web|url=http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2014-09-16/this-dutch-wunderkind-now-has-the-funds-to-build-his-ocean-cleanup-machine|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140917035034/http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2014-09-16/this-dutch-wunderkind-now-has-the-funds-to-build-his-ocean-cleanup-machine|url-status=dead|archive-date=17 September 2014|title=This Dutch Guy Now Has the Funds to Build His Ocean Cleanup Machine|last=Winter|first=Caroline|date=16 September 2014|publisher=Bloomberg Businessweek|url-access=subscription}}</ref> is a Dutch inventor and entrepreneur.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Boyan_Slat|title=Researchgate|last=Boyan|first=Slat|date=20 October 2019|website=Researchgate}}</ref> A former [[aerospace engineering]] student,<ref name="Welt20141024">{{cite news | language = de | first = Josephine | last = Pabst | url = https://www.welt.de/wirtschaft/article131834451/Idee-eines-20-Jaehrigen-koennte-die-Ozeane-entmuellen.html | title = Idee eines 20-Jährigen könnte die Ozeane entmüllen | newspaper = [[Die Welt]] | date = 24 October 2014 }}</ref><ref name="SlatWebsite" /> he is the founder and [[Chief executive officer|CEO]] of [[The Ocean Cleanup]].<ref name="www.theoceancleanup.com">{{Cite web|url=https://www.theoceancleanup.com/about/|title=About|website=The Ocean Cleanup|access-date=24 July 2017}}</ref>

== Initial interest in plastic pollution ==
In 2011, Slat went [[scuba diving]] in Greece and noticed that the amount of plastic surpassed the number of fish in the area he explored. He made [[marine plastic pollution|ocean plastic pollution]] the subject of a high school project examining why it was considered nearly impossible to clean up. He later conceived the idea of building a passive plastic catchment system using circulating ocean currents to collect [[plastic waste]], which he presented at a [[TEDx]] talk in [[Delft]] in 2012.<ref name="HowItBegan">{{Cite web|url=https://www.theoceancleanup.com/milestones/how-it-all-began/|title=How it all began|website=The Ocean Cleanup |access-date=6 June 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=How the oceans can clean themselves: Boyan Slat at TEDxDelft|date=24 October 2014|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ROW9F-c0kIQ |website=YouTube |access-date=6 June 2017}}</ref>

Slat discontinued his aerospace engineering studies at [[Delft University of Technology|TU Delft]] to devote his time to developing his cleanup concept. He founded [[The Ocean Cleanup]] in 2013, and shortly after, his TEDx talk went viral across major news platforms.<ref name="HowItBegan" /> Writing in ''[[The Economist]]'' in 2017, Slat remarked: "Technology is the most potent agent of change. It is an amplifier of our human capabilities ... Whereas other change-agents rely on reshuffling the existing building blocks of society, technological innovation creates entirely new ones, expanding our problem-solving tool-range."<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.theworldin.com/edition/2017/article/12652/sea-change|title=The Economist|last=Slat|first=Boyan|newspaper=The Economist}}</ref>

== The Ocean Cleanup ==
{{main|The Ocean Cleanup}}

In 2013, Slat established the [[non-profit organization]] [[The Ocean Cleanup]], serving as its [[Chief executive officer|CEO]].<ref name="www.theoceancleanup.com" /> The organization's primary objective is to develop advanced technologies to rid the world's oceans of plastic pollution.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theoceancleanup.com/about/|title=About|website=The Ocean Cleanup |access-date=6 June 2017}}</ref> The project raised US$2.2{{nbsp}}million through a global crowdfunding campaign supported by 38,000 donors across 159 countries.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theoceancleanup.com/milestones/crowd-funding-campaign/|title=Crowd Funding Campaign|website=The Ocean Cleanup|access-date=6 June 2017}}</ref>

In June 2014, The Ocean Cleanup released a 528-page feasibility study evaluating the project's potential.<ref>{{citation|url=https://www.theoceancleanup.com/fileadmin/media-archive/Documents/TOC_Feasibility_study_lowres_V2_0.pdf|title=How the oceans can clean themselves: a feasibility study|date=June 2014|first=Boyan|last=Slat|access-date=24 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180423170230/https://www.theoceancleanup.com/fileadmin/media-archive/Documents/TOC_Feasibility_study_lowres_V2_0.pdf|archive-date=23 April 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref> The project received technical critiques from marine scientists and commentators on platforms such as ''Deep Sea News'', ''[[Popular Science]]'', and ''[[The Guardian]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.deepseanews.com/2019/01/boondoggle-ocean-cleanup/|title=The Continued Boondoggle of the Ocean Cleanup|first=Craig|last=McClain|date=6 January 2019|website=DeepSeaNews|access-date=12 August 2021}}</ref><ref>{{citation|url=https://www.popsci.com/article/science/does-ocean-cleanup-stand-peer-review|title=Does 'The Ocean Cleanup' Stand Up To Peer Review?|first=Emily|last=Gertz|date=16 July 2014|publisher=[[Popular Science]]}}</ref><ref name="guardian">{{citation|url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/mar/26/ocean-cleanup-project-environment-pollution-boyan-slat|title=Too good to be true? The Ocean Cleanup Project faces feasibility questions|date=26 March 2016|first=Lindsey|last=Kratochwill|website=[[The Guardian]]}}</ref>

The organization subsequently raised tens of millions of dollars in backing from global entrepreneurs, including [[Marc Benioff]] and [[Peter Thiel]].<ref name="CNBCThiel">{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2017/04/20/thiel-benioff-backing-22-year-olds-dream-to-clean-up-worlds-oceans.html|title=Why Peter Thiel believes in this 22-year-old's dream to clean up the oceans|first=Susan|last=Caminiti|date=22 April 2017|website=CNBC|access-date=23 April 2017}}</ref> In 2026, The Ocean Cleanup was named an Audacious Project grantee, receiving $121 million toward its "30 Cities Program".<ref>{{Cite web |title=My Invention Makes Ocean Plastic The Worlds Cheapest Problem To Solve |url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/environment/article/my-invention-makes-ocean-plastic-the-worlds-cheapest-problem-to-solve-0ktdl5x09|website=The Times}}</ref>

=== Cleanup systems ===
Early ocean deployments, named System 001 and System 001/B, faced structural and operational challenges, including floating debris retention issues and mechanical damage. However, System 001/B successfully captured microplastics and floating trash in late 2019.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Bendix |first1=Aria |title=A device invented by a 25-year-old is finally catching trash in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. It hauled 60 bags to shore to turn into new products. |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/ocean-cleanup-plastic-products-great-pacific-garbage-patch-2019-12 |access-date=24 December 2019 |date=12 December 2019}}</ref>

In 2022, System 002 successfully retrieved over 62,000 pounds (28,000 kg) of ocean plastic.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ocean Cleanup moves beyond testing and outlines a system 3x the size |url=https://refractor.io/environment/ocean-cleanup-pacific-garbage-patch-system-003/}}</ref> By 2024, following the deployment of System 03, the organization confirmed it had extracted over 1 million pounds of plastic from the [[Great Pacific Garbage Patch]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Great Pacific Garbage Patch can be Cleaned for $7.5 Billion |url=https://theoceancleanup.com/press/press-releases/the-great-pacific-garbage-patch-can-be-cleaned-for-7-5-billion/|website=The Ocean Cleanup}}</ref>

=== The Interceptor ===
[[File:Interceptor Original 007.jpg|thumb|The Interceptor 007 deployed in Los Angeles, California.]]

In October 2019, Slat introduced "The Interceptor", an automated, solar-powered river barge system designed to capture floating debris before it enters the sea.<ref>{{Citation|title=Boyan Slat unveils the Interceptor River Cleanup system |date=27 October 2019 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KyZArQMFhQ4|website=YouTube|access-date=7 June 2020}}</ref> Research conducted by the organization indicated that roughly 1,000 rivers globally account for nearly 80% of ocean plastic pollution.

As of mid-2026, Interceptor systems and barrier technologies have been deployed across river networks in [[Indonesia]], [[Malaysia]], [[Dominican Republic]], [[Vietnam]], [[Thailand]], [[Guatemala]], [[United States|the United States]], [[Jamaica]], [[Panama]], [[Honduras]], [[India]], and [[Philippines|the Philippines]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Dashboard |url=https://theoceancleanup.com/dashboard/|website=The Ocean Cleanup}}</ref>

== Awards and recognition ==
* '''2014:''' Awarded [[Champions of the Earth]] by the [[United Nations Environment Programme]] (UNEP).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.unep.org/championsofearth/laureates/2014/boyan-slat|title=Boyan Slat - Inspiration and action|publisher=[[United Nations Environment Programme]]|access-date=17 November 2014}}</ref>
* '''2015:''' Awarded the Young Entrepreneur Award by [[Harald V of Norway|King Harald V]] of Norway.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.youngship.com/youngship-international/news/young-entrepreneur-award-2017/|title=Young Entrepreneur Award|website=YoungShip|access-date=8 June 2017}}</ref>
* '''2016:''' Named in ''[[Forbes (magazine)|Forbes]]'' [[Forbes 30 Under 30|30 Under 30]] list for Science and Healthcare.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/30-under-30-europe-2016/science-healthcare/|title=30 Under 30 Europe 2016: Science and Healthcare|work=Forbes|access-date=24 July 2017}}</ref>
* '''2017:''' Selected for a [[Thiel Fellowship]] grant.<ref name="CNBCThiel" /> Named [[European of the Year (Reader's Digest award)|European of the Year]] by ''[[Reader's Digest]]''<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.readersdigest.ca/features/rdi/european-year-boyan-slatan-wants-clean-oceans/|title=European of the Year: Boyan Slat Wants to Clean Up the Oceans|date=31 January 2017|work=Reader's Digest|access-date=6 June 2017}}</ref> and ''Nederlander van het Jaar'' (Dutchman of the Year) by ''[[Elsevier (magazine)|Elsevier]]''.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.elsevierweekblad.nl/nederland/achtergrond/2017/12/dit-is-de-nederlander-van-het-jaar-2017-566170/|title=Dit is de Nederlander van het Jaar 2017|date=6 December 2017|work=Elsevier Weekblad|access-date=25 May 2018}}</ref>
* '''2018:''' Awarded the [[Leonardo da Vinci International Art Award]] and Euronews "European Entrepreneur of the Year".<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.euronews.com/2018/05/23/european-leadership-awards-all-you-need-to-know|title=European Leadership Awards: meet the winners|date=23 May 2018|work=Euronews|access-date=25 May 2018}}</ref>
* '''2020:''' Honored in the [[Project Management Institute]]'s Future 50 Leaders list.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.pmi.org/future-50/2020-honorees/boyan-slat|title=PMI Future 50|date=2020|work=PMI|access-date=7 October 2023}}</ref>
* '''2024:''' Listed in ''Time'' Magazine's 100 Most Influential People in Climate.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Booth |first=Harry |date=12 November 2024 |title=Boyan Slat |url=https://time.com/collections/time100-climate-2024/7172487/boyan-slat/ |website=Time}}</ref>
* '''2025:''' Featured on Forbes' Sustainability Leaders List and ''The Independent'' Climate 100 List.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Brier |first=Elisabeth |date=18 September 2025 |title=Forbes Sustainability Leaders 2025 |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/elisabethbrier/2025/09/18/forbes-sustainability-leaders-2025/ |website=Forbes}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=21 September 2025 |title=The Independent Climate 100 List 2025 in full |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/climate-change/climate-100/climate-100-list-2025-climate-week-nyc-b2816336.html |access-date=17 February 2026 |website=The Independent}}</ref>

== Personal life ==
Slat was born and raised in the Netherlands. He is of Croatian descent through his father.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Speksnijder |first=Cor |date=24 December 2015 |title='In de geschiedenis zijn meer dingen wél gelukt dan niet' |url=https://www.volkskrant.nl/nieuws-achtergrond/in-de-geschiedenis-zijn-meer-dingen-wel-gelukt-dan-niet~bd64e492/ |access-date=4 March 2024 |work=[[de Volkskrant]] |language=nl}}</ref>

== See also ==
* [[The Ocean Cleanup]]
* [[Marine plastic pollution]]
* [[Great Pacific Garbage Patch]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category|Boyan Slat}}
* {{Official website|https://theoceancleanup.com/boyan-slat/}}
* [https://tedxtalks.ted.com/video/How-the-oceans-can-clean-them-2 How the Oceans Can Clean Themselves] – Boyan Slat at TEDxDelft

{{DEFAULTSORT:Slat, Boyan}}
[[Category:1994 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:21st-century Dutch inventors]]
[[Category:Dutch environmentalists]]
[[Category:Dutch people of Croatian descent]]
[[Category:Plastics and the environment]]
[[Category:Thiel fellows]]
[[Category:Dutch chief executives]]
[[Category:Organization founders]]

Boyan Slat - Revision history