Fionn Ferreira

Fionn Ferreira is an Irish scientist, inventor and sustainability keynote speaker known globally for his work tackling microplastic pollution and advancing clean water solutions. Raised on the coastline of West Cork, Fionn’s early connection to the ocean shaped a lifelong commitment to environmental protection. Witnessing plastic waste accumulate along remote shores, he began experimenting with ways to identify, collect and remove microplastics from water. That curiosity evolved into a breakthrough innovation that would place him at the forefront of sustainable water technology and position him as one of the most influential young voices in environmental science.

While still a teenager, Fionn invented a pioneering magnet-based method that removes microplastics from water using a reusable ferrofluid, without filters or harmful chemicals. This innovation earned him the Global Grand Prize at the Google Science Fair, catapulting his work onto the international stage. Since then, Fionn has founded Fionn & Co. LLC, a company dedicated to scaling this technology for industrial and municipal water systems, alongside his nonprofit, the Green Journey Coalition. His approach focuses on real-world deployment, low energy use and circular design, ensuring sustainability is embedded at every stage of development.

Fionn’s achievements have been recognised worldwide. He is a European Patent Office Young Inventors Prize winner, a Forbes 30 Under 30 honouree and a National Geographic Young Explorer. His microplastic removal technology has demonstrated extraction rates exceeding 85 percent in a single pass, supporting global efforts around clean water access and ocean health. His work has received backing from Robert Downey Jr’s Footprint Coalition and featured in a global HP sustainability campaign, reflecting both scientific credibility and commercial relevance. Alongside this, Fionn is pursuing advanced research as a doctoral student at ETH Zürich, focusing on sustainable scientific instrumentation and energy-efficient research systems.

Beyond the laboratory, Fionn is a compelling communicator and sought-after keynote speaker. He has delivered talks at the World Economic Forum, House of Lords, ChangeNOW Paris and major international sustainability summits, translating complex science into clear, actionable insight. He is also the presenter of ‘’What’s Next? Science’’ on RTÉ, inspiring younger audiences to engage with innovation and environmental responsibility. As a speaker, Fionn explores microplastic pollution, clean water systems, the circular economy and how bold ideas can scale into global impact. His keynotes leave audiences informed, energised and confident that science-led sustainability can deliver meaningful change.