John Honek is a Professor in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Waterloo and a member of the Water Institute and Waterloo Institute for Nanotechnology (WIN). He is also an active contributor to the Microplastics Fingerprinting project, consisting of a multidisciplinary team of over 30 faculty members, masters and PhD students, and staff dedicated to addressing the environmental challenges posed by microplastics.
As a biochemist, Professor Honek leads a research group focused on bionanotechnology, enzymology, and medicinal chemistry, with a significant emphasis on microplastics. His team explores two main areas of interest:
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Biodegradation of plastics: Screening commercial oxidative enzymes and redox mediators to identify potential bioremediation strategies for degrading polyethylene.
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Plastic-biomolecule interactions: Investigating peptide interactions with various plastics to understand the key interactions between plastics and biomolecules, thereby creating efficient methods to detect and identify specific microplastics.
Professor Honek’s graduate student, Alex Waldie, has made significant contributions to advancing these areas of knowledge in microplastics chemistry and biochemistry.
The Microplastics Fingerprinting project aligns with Honek’s broader goal of addressing critical societal challenges that threaten human health and well-being. Given that most plastics are not recycled, developing innovative solutions to manage and remediate microplastics is essential for protecting human health and ecosystem integrity.