It’s almost like he’s a superstar. Cameramen and journalists are nearly tripping over each other to take the best shot of Boyan Slat, the 21-year-old brain behind the Ocean Cleanup project. But with his calm demeanor, he knows exactly how to deal with intrusive media and tough questions.
Why actively move through the ocean, if the ocean can move through you? This idea marked the beginning of Slat’s school research project five years ago. He wants to clear the oceans of the so-called plastic soup. His idea evolved and eventually the Ocean Cleanup Foundation was started. Last week, Slat presented his prototype, which needs to survive in the North Sea for one year.
During the press conference, Slat was escorted by his personal assistant. She pointed out his tight schedule to the horde of journalists and photographers. No more than five minutes were free to take pictures before interviews were scheduled. And those interviews were only reserved for (inter)national radio and television. Slat does not seem to care about the dozens of cameras pointed at him. What does it mean to quit university at a young age and become CEO of an internationally renowned foundation?
While most college students face stress and panic of upcoming exams, Slat spends his time on realising his dream. Instead of books, exams and parties, he is engaged in feasibility studies, acquisition and obtaining data on the amount of plastic in the ocean. Drinking tea with Boskalis CEO Peter Bedowski is on his agenda. And with Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte and State Secretary for Infrastructure and the Environment Sharon Dijksma, he will go to Indonesia to create awareness about the plastic soup.
Whether it is due to his young age, tremendous perseverance or ambition to help the world and rid the oceans of plastic is not clear. But his national and international good reputation is a fact. “We need a whole army of Boyans,” said Dijksma. Bedowski called him inspiring and praised his courage. Slat did not seem to be too impressed by the words of these important figures, though. Being impatient during the photo shoot, he enthusiastically explained to Dijksma and Bedowski that his prototype is ‘smart’, because of the sensors on top of it. Nevertheless, this might as well be a ploy in front of the camera, whispered in his ear by his PR-team.
Slat also knows that this media circus is necessary to make his idea become reality. Throughout the circus of cameras and “Boyan” screaming photographers, he knows how to present his story and speak to the media in a calm and clear way. Yet, despite his mature manner in handling the media, he’s still a 21-year-old who named his prototype ‘Boomy McBoomface’.
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