📣 It's the Final Stretch!: Refine and Submit (or Resubmit) Your Proposal Before the Deadline - June 2, 2025!

As we approach the final submission deadline for the  Microplastics Detection Challenge, we want to remind everyone of the core focus of this challenge:

We are not seeking literature reviews or conceptual summaries.
We are seeking novel, actionable ideas that propose a realistic path to at-home microplastic detection in food—something that could be developed into a working, low-cost consumer test within 1–2 years.

If you’ve already submitted a proposal, you are welcome and encouraged to resubmit a revised version before the deadline. This is your opportunity to strengthen your solution and ensure it meets the challenge criteria.

📝 Key Reminders for Submission:

We strongly encourage submitting your solution as a PDF document to preserve formatting and allow for clearer evaluation.

You may also submit directly via email to info@joinlifeguard.org with your updated proposal.

Submissions should be original, research-supported ideas that directly tackle the challenge of creating an at-home microplastics detection method—not just a discussion of existing technologies.

If you’ve used AI tools (like LLMs) during your research or drafting process, that’s fine—as long as the final proposal demonstrates genuine novelty, clear scientific justification, and human insight.

💡 Your Proposal Should:

Be based on sound scientific reasoning, with references to prior research, patents, or experimental data

Be applicable across multiple food types (liquids, solids, semi-solids)

Be sensitive enough to detect particles ≥5–10 micrometers at ~500 particles per liter

Cost no more than $15 per test and provide results in under 2 hours

Outline a plausible path to commercialization within 1–2 years

If your proposal doesn't yet meet these expectations, this is your chance to revise and resubmit. We’re looking for solutions—not summaries.

🔬 Let’s build something that empowers consumers and accelerates microplastics detection.

Thank you for your continued engagement and creativity,
— The Lifeguard x Consumer Reports Challenge Team
info@joinlifeguard.org