Philip Ehrhorn, the co-founder and chief technology officer of The Great Bubble Barrier, will deliver a lecture at Wilkes University on Tuesday, April 14 at 7:00 p.m. in the Sordoni Art Gallery, 141 S. Main St., Wilkes-Barre, Pa. This event is free and open to the public.
In his presentation, “Bubble Barrier: A Smart Solution to Plastic Pollution”, Ehrhorn will explore how bubbles can help address the estimated 19-23 million tons of plastic waste that enters rivers, lakes and oceans annually. The story behind The Great Bubble Barrier, already in use in rivers around the world, showcases how innovation, cooperation and optimism can help move the world towards cleaner rivers and healthier oceans.
The Great Bubble Barrier is a Dutch social enterprise dedicated to stopping plastic pollution in rivers before it reaches the ocean. Founded in 2017, the company developed an innovative, non-invasive technology that removes plastic from waterways without disrupting ship traffic or aquatic life.
Since installing its first long-term Bubble Barrier in Amsterdam in 2019, which has captured over 1 million pieces of plastic, the company has implemented four long-term systems: three in the Netherlands (Amsterdam, Katwijk, Harlingen) and one in Vila do Conde, Portugal. With growing global interest, The Great Bubble Barrier aims to scale its sustainable technology worldwide, helping keep rivers clean and plastic-free.
Ehrhorn is the co-founder and chief technology officer at The Great Bubble Barrier. He is responsible for engineering and technical development, ensuring the Bubble Barrier system operates in the most optimised and efficient way. With degrees in naval architecture, ocean engineering and aquatic ecosystem analysis, Ehrhorn brings a strong technical and environmental expertise to tackling ocean conservation challenges and advancing sustainable solutions.
In addition to delivering the Cohen Center Lecture, Ehrhorn will offer specialized presentations to Wilkes students within the College of Business and Engineering.
“Simple and Effective Design: Using Bubbles to Clean Rivers” will be presented on Tuesday, April 14 at 11 a.m. in Stark Learning Center Room 105 and is open to all students.
“From Idea to Impact: Scaling Technology for Cleaner Rivers” will be presented on Wednesday, April 15 at 1 p.m. in the Jean and Paul Adams Commons in the Henry Student Center and is open to all students and prospective students.
Ehrhorn’s visit to northeastern Pennsylvania and presentations to both the campus community and the public are organized through Wilkes University’s Cohen Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation.
Throughout the spring, student research scholars working with the Cohen Center have developed a series of programs that will engage students, faculty, staff and community members in conversations around innovation and natural resources.
Inspired by the campus’ close proximity to the Susquehanna River, students have chosen to focus their innovation study on the nonprofits, governments, entrepreneurs and communities that use, enjoy and manage rivers, both locally and globally. Ehrhorn’s visit offers Wilkes the opportunity to gain global exposure to innovations solving real-world challenges.
Students and community members interested in learning about the work of the Cohen Center, or the Great Bubble Barrier Lecture, can visit wilkes.edu/cohencenter for more information.