Liam Pope-Lau

Liam Pope-LauLiam Pope-LauLiam Pope-Lau

Liam Pope-Lau

Liam Pope-LauLiam Pope-LauLiam Pope-Lau

A young award winning innovator passionate about entrepreneurship, environmentalism, leadership and innovation.

A young award winning innovator passionate about entrepreneurship, environmentalism, leadership and innovation.

My Projects

Young man holding a yellow heat pack with LIFEHEAT branding.

LifeHeat

Ocean Diagnostics Inc.

OceanLens

My innovation LifeHeat is a water-activated self-heating survival pack developed to help prevent hypothermia. It generates heat when immersed in water, with no activation. LifeHeat is made of recycled materials, is refillable and can retrofit any lifejacket.  Read more here: https://ingeniousplus.ca/submission/lifeheat-the-self-heating-survival-pack-that-works-in-water/ 

2025 Youth Innovation Challenge winners and finalists announcement.

OceanLens

Ocean Diagnostics Inc.

OceanLens

Creator of OceanLens, an AI driven data-platform for microplastics education, awareness, and research, integrates microplastic data with data points on industry locations, biodiversity, human population density, waste facilities, and more.  Read more here: 

https://thegeep.org/programs/youth-innovation-challenge/liam-pope-lau


Youth ambassadors and science reps promote Ocean Diagnostics' mission with equipment and community engagement.

Ocean Diagnostics Inc.

Ocean Diagnostics Inc.

Ocean Diagnostics Inc.

Inaugural Youth Ambassador and Citizen Science representative for Ocean Diagnostics Inc. encouraging the public to get involved in microplastics citizen science to create a healthier future.  Read more here: 

https://oceandiagnostics.com/ocean-diagnostics-blog/post/microplastics-citizen-science-engaging-youth-for-a-cleaner-future


Logo for the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science 2021-2030.

Ocean Stewardship

Ocean Stewardship

Ocean Diagnostics Inc.

Canadian representative for the World Oceans Day Youth Advisory Council (Council). The Council develops youth-focused strategies, resources, campaigns, and/or events to be implemented around World Oceans Day and with expanded opportunities for ocean conservation throughout the year. Read more here: https://worldoceanday.org/youth/youth-advisory-council/

Community members crafting and sharing Valentine's Day cards in Canada.

Project Valentine

Ocean Stewardship

Project Valentine

I created Project Valentine to deliver Valentines to the elderly individuals impacted by loneliness. This annual initiative has helped several thousand seniors since 2017 and has been adopted all across Canada and abroad.  

Read more about it here: https://www.timescolonist.com/local-news/student-brings-messages-of-hope-and-love-to-seniors-every-valentines-day-5058761 

Canadian Nanowood

Ocean Stewardship

Project Valentine

My nanowood innovation project addresses several global problems using nanowood sustainably sourced from Canadian forests.   

This project has demonstrated nanowood (sourced from specific tree species abundant in Canadian forests) has promise as a potential source for green energy, microplastics filtration and as a tool for affordable desalination of water.


My Interests

Environmental Science & Policy

Environmental Science & Policy

Environmental Science & Policy

Nationally recognized advocate for environmental science and policy in Canada with original scientific research on microplastics and ocean energy. This includes attending Federal Committee meetings in Ottawa and meeting with BC MLA’s to advocate for policy change. Read more here: https://www.youthclimateactivismaward.org/2024-winners/liam-pope-lau

Youth Political Engagement

Environmental Science & Policy

Environmental Science & Policy

Advocate for youth political engagement. Delegate for the 2022 Victoria Forum (Cohosted by UVic and the Canadian Senate), Young Politicians of Canada 2025 National Summit (Ottawa) and the Forum for Young Canadians 2026 National Summit (Ottawa).

Member of the Canadian International Council (CIC) and  Model UN conference organizer.

Historical Research & Literacy

Environmental Science & Policy

Historical Research & Literacy

 One of 13 selected representatives for the Province of BC leading the Youth component of the BC Heritage Fairs Society, a registered charity that organizes heritage-focused programming.  Co-creator of youth led documentaries highlighting British Columbia’s heritage in terms of diversity, community, and identity.  Read more here: https://bcheritagefairs.ca/

Speech and Dramatic Arts

Environmental Science & Policy

Historical Research & Literacy

 Seven years of training and competing in Speech and Dramatic Arts. I was invited to perform at Carnegie Hall in New York City at age 14, and take specialized dramatic arts training at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts. Read more about it here: https://vancouverislandfreedaily.com/2023/11/20/so-amazing-oak-bay-teen-takes-on-shakespeare-at-prestigious-carnegie-hall/

Featured Innovation Projects

OceanLens: AI driven data-platform for microplastics education, awareness, and research

My innovation OceanLens is an AI driven data-platform for microplastics education, awareness, and research, integrates microplastic data with data points on industry locations, biodiversity, human population density, waste facilities, and more.

In 2025, OceanLens was recognized as a Finalist (the only finalist from Canada and the USA) in the International Youth Innovation Challenge (YIC) by the Global Environmental Education Partnership (GEEP).  GEEP is a partnership between the US Environmental Protection Agency, the Taiwan Ministry of Environment, and the North American Association for Environmental Education.

LifeHeat: The Self-Heating Survival Pack that Works in Water

I created LifeHeat as a water-activated self-heating survival pack developed to help prevent hypothermia. It generates heat when immersed in water, with no activation. LifeHeat is made of recycled materials, is refillable and can retrofit any lifejacket. 

 In 2024, I proudly represented Canada by securing First Place in the Global Blue Ocean Competition, competing against nearly 10,000 participants from 1,600 schools across 161 countries. This competition is the "World's Most Prestigious International Entrepreneurship Competition for High School Students, and 139 of the US News and World Report Top 250 STEM high schools in the US have participated in the competition".

Notable Project Awards

Notable Awards

  • International Youth Innovation Challenge Award Finalist (2025) 
  • Jean Lumb Foundation National Innovation Award Winner (2025) 
  • Blue Ocean International Competition First Place Grand Prize Award Winner (2024)
  • Ingenious+ National and Regional Award Winner by the Rideau Hall Foundation (2024)
  • Magnum Opus International Speech and Drama Competition Finalist (2023)
  • British Columbia Youth Innovation Showcase - Innovator of the Year Award (2022)
  • British Columbia Youth Innovation Showcase - People’s Choice Young Innovator Award Winner (2022)

Media Coverage

 Profiled by numerous national and international media publications including Scholastic, The Globe and Mail, Yahoo Finance, CTV National News, CBC Radio Canada, CBC Kids, CHEK News, Black Media Press, CKNW, BC Techy, Victoria Tech Journal, Techcouver, Canada Today, Business News, Daily Hive Vancouver, Currents for Kids, World Today News, and the Times Colonist.

Special Thanks to these Supporters

Athletics

Basketball

Basketball

Basketball

High level basketball athlete for over 8 years playing in the high school, provincial and AAU tournament circuit.  

Gold medal winner in Boys Basketball at 2022 BC Summer Games.

Rugby

Basketball

Basketball

 Member of Team BC Rugby in 2022 and winner of the BC Commissioner's Award in 2024.  Competed in multiple championship games at regional, provincial and high school levels.

Sailing

Basketball

Sailing

Over 6 years of sailing experience attaining CANSail Level 5.   

2024 Vancouver Island School League Sailing Championships - First Place (High School Division) 


Luge

Waterpolo

Sailing

Participated in Luge Canada Targeted Olympic Athlete Development Program (2024)

Waterpolo

Waterpolo

Waterpolo

Competitive Waterpolo athlete with multiple years of experience with international competition

About Me

Profile

High School student (Class of 2027) based in Victoria BC, Canada attending St. Michaels University School (SMUS).

Innovation

Winner of National and International Science and Business Excellence Awards including the 2024 Blue Ocean Competition, Ingenious+ 2024 Canadian National Award for Entrepreneurship and Technology, named 2022 Innovator of the Year by Science Fair Foundation of BC, and voted winner of the 2022 People’s Choice Young Innovator Award for my innovation LifeHeat to prevent hypothermia. My latest innovation OceanLens was announced as a 2025 Finalist in the International Youth Innovation Challenge by the Global Environmental Education Partnership (GEEP). 

Science and Policy

Recognized with a National Youth Climate Activism Award in 2024 for Environmental Leadership including attending Federal Committee meetings in Ottawa and meeting with MLA’s to advocate for a single use plastics ban in BC in 2019. The first appointed Youth Ambassador and Citizen Science representative for Ocean Diagnostics Inc. (ODI) since 2021 (an environmental impact company) working with academia, government, industry, foundations, citizens and classmates to diagnose and protect our planet from the threats of plastic pollution and biodiversity loss through science, technology, and partnerships. 

Speech and Dramatic Arts

Winner of the 2023 Foresight Leadership Foundation Scholarship and finalist in the Magnum Opus International Speech and Dramatic Arts Competition after placing in the top 3 in BC in the 2023 BC Performing Arts Provincial Festival.  As a finalist in the Magnum Opus Competition I was invited to perform at Carnegie Hall in New York City, and take specialized dramatic arts training at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts.

Social Innovation and Leadership

Recognized by the District of Oak Bay with a Young Exceptional Star (YES) Award in 2023 for achievements and demonstration of leadership in the community.  Initiating social innovation to lead others by founding the Valentines for Seniors Project in 2017, delivering thousands of Valentines to the elderly in long-term care homes annually for over nine years.  

Contact Me

Please feel free to reach me at:

liampopelau @ gmail.com 

My Blog

Copyright © 2026 Liam Pope-Lau - All Rights Reserved.


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