Three Honolulu middle-schoolers spoke to a room full of international scientists yesterday on their award-winning project to increase awareness about the danger of plastic pollution in the oceans.

Jordan Wong, Brandon Lim and Andrew Shiozaki, all whom just finished sixth grade at Our Redeemer Lutheran School, kicked off a session on marine debris at the 20th annual Pacific Congress on Marine Science and Technology convention, which runs through today.

The boys have won several awards for the project, including one from the University of Hawai'i School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology. The presentation is called "Plastic Pollution."

"We are excited to take what we learned a few steps further and be able to share it at an international conference," Lim said.

The convention is being held at the Ala Moana Hotel.

The boys put on a five-minute presentation, which touched on what plastics they found during strolls on Hawai'i beaches and how dangerous the items can be to marine and shoreline animals.

They were the only Hawai'i youths invited to present at the conference, though some bright students did attend several sessions.

The congress convention has been held around the world and brings together leading marine scientists to discuss the preservation of oceans in the Pacific. For more information, go to www.hawaii.edu/pacon.