XPrize's Competition to Protect Ocean pH

Organization Behind Google's Sponsorship Announced the Roster of Teams Competing for the $2 Million Wendy Schmidt Ocean Health XPrize Focused on Staving off Ocean Acidification

XPrize, the non-profit organization behind the $10 million Qualcomm tricorder prize and Google's $30 million sponsorship of a Lunar landing effort, announced the roster of teams competing for the Wendy Schmidt Ocean HealthXPRIZE, a $2 million competition designed to help improve the world's understanding of ocean acidification.

Surprisingly, tools for detecting changes in ocean pH, one of the biggest threats to ocean health, are incredibly scarce —a fact that's largely the impetus behind the competition. XPrize said sophisticatedsensors are needed by marine industries including science, management, fisheries —and basically everyone and anyone connected to the seas.

The 18 competing teams have worked to develop these much-needed ocean pH sensing technologies, each with the potential to provide the data needed to deal with ocean acidification, which XPrizecites as the "evil twin" of climate change. If successful, XPrize also hopes the competition will work todrive the growth of sustainable industries in ocean services.

Here's a sample of a few of the competing teams:

pHFine Scale, Seaside, California - This family team that includes five teenagers worked on the design, manufacturing, calibration and delivery of pH instruments to a coral reef ocean acidification at Heron Island, part of the Great Barrier Reef. Their design leverages concepts from an environmental monitoring and water control project that had been in the prototype stage prior to focusing their efforts on the Ocean Health XPRIZE.

National Oceanography Center, Southhampton, UK - This group of marine scientists focused on the development of sustained ocean observing, mapping and surveying, as well as data management and scientific advice. The goal of their technology is to enable scientists to make measurements and observations where and when they require.

Blue Devil Engineering, Beaufort, North Carolina - Originating as a club for Duke University students, this team and its leaders has worked to cultivate a culture of ocean engineering that will work hand-in-hand with marine conservation scientists.

Source: Zdnet

Read More Related Content On This Topic - Click Here

Media

Taxonomy

• Environment
• Conservation