Written by Tanisha Cardozo
In the ongoing fight against plastic pollution, a new hero has emerged from an unlikely place — a university classroom. Meet Gillbert, a salmon-sized, 3D-printed robotic fish that swims like its biological cousins but with a futuristic twist: it filters out microplastics from the water.
Created by Eleanor Mackintosh, a student at the University of Surrey, Gillbert is designed with a mesh filtration system that traps even the smallest plastic particles. Built with affordability, sustainability, and education in mind, the robot is also open-source and free to replicate — making it accessible to communities, schools, and researchers worldwide.
Gillbert’s mission is more than academic. The robot has already undergone real-world testing in UK lakes, proving its ability to collect microplastics efficiently while maintaining the elegant, natural movements of a fish — thanks to biomimetic engineering.
This project underscores a growing trend of student-led climate tech and shows how innovation doesn’t have to come from massive R&D budgets or large corporations. Sometimes, it starts with a student, a printer, and a purpose.
With more interest growing around Gillbert’s design, there’s hope that this humble robot fish could spark a wave of similar solutions worldwide.
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