Ocean Solutions

Categories

Technology, Conservation, Ecology

Supported By

The Ocean Solutions Fund supports experiments that seek to better understand and/or improve the health of our world's ocean.
Science Leads: Katy Croff BellDavid Lang, Eric Stackpole


The Projects

Browse the participating projects

Do humpback whales have lasting social bonds and long term relationships?

Humpback whales were once wrongly considered solitary. However, recent research has shown that they can...

Harnessing New Technologies for Mapping Montserrat’s Marine Megafauna

In a first for the island, a locally-led initiative will survey Montserrat's marine environment, to identify...

Kelp Forest Restoration and Monitoring using Community Science

Since 2014, more than 96% of bull kelp in Northern California has been lost due to a combination of stressors...

Deep diving into shark stomachs: new methods of identifying prey

How significant an impact do keystone shark species have on fisheries? We’re still in the dark because we...

Can we use a smartwatch for coastal monitoring and research?

The best sensor is the one you’re already wearing. Smartwatches contain sensors already used by scientists...

Studying the World's Largest Invertebrate - the Colossal Squid, Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni

We are launching a multi-year expedition to film a colossal squid in the deep sea for the first time off...

Establishing a baseline for microplastic accumulation in deep-sea animals using an historical sample archive

The deep sea is recognized as a hotspot for microplastic accumulation. While we are beginning to understand...

Adapting genetic technology for marine conservation

Protecting the ocean's biodiversity is essential for the health of the planet and communities. Marine Protected...

Using drones to find ghost gear in Koh Phangan, Thailand & study the impacts on marine megafauna

Koh Phangan is situated in the Surat Thani Environmental Protected Area, a region of diverse marine wildlife...

Can a low-cost camera system help conserve the deep-sea biodiversity of Ticao-Burias Pass (Philippines)?

The Manta Bowl is a seamount located within the second largest protected seascape in the Philippines. Due...

Are deep-sea metals powering bioelectrical eco-evolution?

The deep sea is enriched with metals and amazing life forms. Electroactive microbes can get energy from...

Can alkalinity enhancement remove carbon and restore corals?

Corals Reefs are threatened by warming oceans and acidification, both of which are direct consequences of...

Measuring CO2 mineralization rates in a simulated ocean environment for the characterization of low-cost sensors

Direct air capture (DAC) of CO2 is a technology for low-cost and scalable carbon dioxide removal (CDR...

Do seawater microbes help oysters cope with ocean acidification?

Oysters are critical members of our coast, but today they live in more acidic environs thanks to increasing...

Establishing the first technological network for long term ocean observations in Costa Rica

Costa Rica lacks extended time series of oceanographic data. To address this issue, our goal is to deploy...

Understanding the migration routes of Haiti's endangered sea turtle populations

Information about Haiti’s sea turtle nesting is limited as sea turtles are targeted along the entire coastline...

An Open Source Seawater Carbonate Analyzer for the Citizen Scientist

Measuring carbon dioxide parameters in seawater is crucial for understanding the impacts carbon dioxide...

The island that disappeared: Exploring the colonization and biodiversity of young shallow seamounts in the Azores

Shallow volcanic seamounts can be hotspots for thriving marine ecosystems. Sabrina volcano, Azores, is a...

Tracking non-breeding endangered Benguela seabirds to inform conservation strategies

Cape Cormorants and Cape Gannets are Endangered seabirds that primarily feed on sardine and anchovy . Although...

What can environmental DNA tell us about California's marine biodiversity?

A new molecular tool that identifies marine species from genetic material in water—“environmental DNA...

Are sharks contributing to salmon declines in the Pacific Northwest?

Many research and conservation efforts are dedicated to managing species like salmon, and these often try...

When do the corals in our reefs spawn?

The timing when corals release their eggs and sperm to reproduce is an extremely complex topic. However...

Super Slime Me: A Month of Living on an All Algae Diet

This study examines the effects of consuming only algae as a dietary source for a month. The subject, a...

What kinds of supports are needed to enable a transition to a low-carbon US commercial fishing fleet?

The urgency of climate change and record-high diesel fuel prices are motivating commercial fishermen to...

Could newly discovered deep-water kelp forests in Galapagos act as climate change refuges?

Following the discovery of extensive deep-water marine forests made up of rare tropical kelp species in...

A low-cost open-source audio-video array to identify fish sounds.

Many fish produce sounds that could be used to monitor them non-intrusively over long periods of time...

Marine Biodiversity Protection Credit

Marine biodiversity protection credits have the potential to contribute to conserving 30% of the world's...

Magnets as blue shark deterrents?

Blue sharks (Prionace glauca) are the most commonly caught species of shark globally. They are usually caught...

Can we improve the survival of larval yellow tang by understanding its microbiome?

Yellow tang are vital to Hawaii’s reef ecosystems, but wild populations have been drastically declining...

Establish baseline climate science to support sensitive Alpine lake ecological management

Austria’s Lake Altaussee is a remote Alpine lake. A long duration heat budget study here will evaluate physical...

Low-cost monitoring of red tide and its viruses in the Philippines

HAB (harmful algal bloom/red tide) is a public health concern. Here, we are interested in the interaction...

Metabolizing Microplastics for Human Health

Plastics have revolutionized material science engineering. However, the use of plastic has had unintended...

Using genetics to assess spatiotemporal variations in recruitment of native and introduced mullet in Kaneʻohe Bay, Oʻahu

Native mullets (ʻamaʻama) are vital to Hawaiian aquaculture. In Kāne‘ohe Bay, yearly recruit abundance is...

Are Largetooth Sawfish in Brazil equipped for survival?

The Critically Endangered Largetooth Sawfish is one of the most threatened of all marine fishes. They have...

Can ocean spray seed ice crystals in clouds?

It has been suggested that diatoms and other ocean biologics are transported to the atmosphere when waves...

Improving the Knowledge of Skates and Rays in Trinidad and Tobago

Trinidad and Tobago is home to many species of skates and rays but exactly how many and their locations...

What are Critically Endangered hammerhead sharks doing in the waters off Miami?

Great hammerhead sharks were recently assessed as Critically Endangered by the IUCN Red List. Our research...

Can low-cost, DIY hydrophones identify orca matrilines in real-time?

At Orcasound, we use underwater microphones (hydrophones) to monitor and conserve the endangered orcas that...

Do deepwater corals eat microplastics?

We aim to provide the first report of microplastic presence (or absence) in deepwater corals. Deepwater...

Can cycling help clean up microplastics from beaches and conserve coastal ecosystems?

Our team is developing a microplastic removal machine to filter and strain contaminated sand effectively...

How does urea loss through gills vary by shark species?

Sharks use solutes, such as urea, to prevent cellular water loss. While the mechanisms of urea retention...

Can corals acclimate to higher temperatures?

Urgent action is needed to protect coral reefs in the face of a changing climate. In Hawaiʻi, outflow from...

Can we identify spawning events in deepwater snappers and groupers?

Nearshore deepwater fisheries are expanding in the Caribbean as coastal fisheries decline. Because deepwater...

Understanding seal behavior with artificial intelligence

Seals are important indicators for the health of our oceans, but it is often difficult to monitor their...

Can we identify individual manta rays in real-time using AI and remote technology?

This project combines AI, high-resolution cameras, and existing manta behavior research to test a program...

What is the known diversity of Somali waters?

During Somalia’s 30-year-long civil war, my country lost many of our marine scientists. Now, Somalia lacks...

Characterizing the deep sea habitats of the Seychelles using new, affordable deep-sea technology

The deep sea makes up more than 90% of our ocean yet receives little attention due to poor access to technology...

Coral reef health monitoring

Corals reefs are a major cornerstone of marine life and the economy. They are declining rapidly and scientists...

Improving Soil Health with Oyster Industry "Waste"

Agricultural soils in The Gambia, West Africa, are highly acidic, which greatly reduces plant growth and...

Laser directed infrared spectroscopy to analyze microplastics down to 20 microns and speed up data analysis

Microplastic analysis is a very time-consuming procedure while smaller-sized plastics (<300 microns...

Using citizen science to gather data to inform sea turtle conservation in Trinidad and Tobago

All 5 sea turtle species in T&T are considered globally Threatened by the IUCN. Effective conservation...

Where are Rhode Island's Remaining Native Oysters?

Natural Oyster abundance in Rhode Island has been declining and is in need of a restoration plan. In collaboration...

Effects of marine pollution on Halophila hawaiiana

Halophila hawaiiana is a Native Hawaiian seagrass that creates a habitat relied on by many organisms. H...

Nutrient Limitation in Phytoplankton

Marine phytoplankton activity is abundant at a global scale and play a major role in the carbon cycle. However...

Increasing Sustainable Kelp Farmers' Yields With an Automated Twine Wrapping Device

In response to the climate crisis and fears of food insecurity, regenerative kelp farming is emerging as...

Microplastic Monitoring Network in Islands and Coastal Zone

The coast of Santa Catarina represents 7% of the Brazilian coast and contains 6 areas relevant to conservation...

Could Hawaii seagrasses be facing extinction?

Seagrass meadows are vital for the health of the ocean because of their ability to absorb carbon from the...

Optimizing nitrogen loading in a micro nursery for nori

Edible seaweeds provide a sustainable source of healthy food and ecosystem services, including habitat for...

More About This Challenge

The sciency details

Challenge Amount:
$250,000
Submission Deadline:
Apr 28, 2023
Campaign Launch:
Apr 28, 2023

Frequently Asked Questions

How do challenge grants work?

Projects can be submitted now! The funding will be distributed according to project needs on a first-come, first-granted basis. The sooner you submit a project, the better your chances of receiving the additional support!

When will the grant be awarded?

On April 28th at 5PM PT, the prizes will be awarded according to the posted schedule.

Can I still submit a project?

We are no longer accepting projects for this grant, however we will be launching many more challenge grant opportunities. Sign up for our mailing list for up-to-date community news.

Please Note:

If we see suspicious acitivity of researchers or backers potentially cheating during the challenge, the project will be completely disqualified from winning the grant.

Challenge Aims

A message from David Lang and Eric Stackpole:

Ten years ago, in the early days of our OpenROV project, we were two people with an ambitious idea to transform ocean exploration with an open-source, low-cost remotely-operated vehicle (ROV). Many experts told us it couldn't be done — we were being too optimistic and idealistic. Luckily we found support through an engaged community and a crowdfunding project that helped jumpstart the project. We also were incredibly fortunate to get a small grant that nudged us up to the starting line. Now we want to pay that forward.  

A message from Dr. Katy Croff Bell:

I founded Ocean Discovery League on the premise that we need to engage the entire world in ocean exploration if we’re going to accelerate discoveries beyond the very small percentage that we’ve actually seen. We will need innovative and creative solutions from all across the globe. Our mission is to accelerate ocean exploration by developing accessible systems to broaden the community of those who explore and understand the deep sea. The deep-sea covers two-thirds of our planet, yet over 99% remains unexplored because present-day ocean exploration is exclusive, expensive, and slow. We aim to create equity in ocean exploration by co-designing accessible, low-cost opportunities and systems for ocean explorers worldwide. This will dramatically increase and accelerate our ability to observe, manage, and protect the ocean, resulting in humankind thriving on earth now and in the future.

We’re looking for proposals for innovative and creative solutions for low-cost, easy-to-use ocean data collection systems, data analysis, deployment, and other replicable solutions.

We will back each project up to $10,000/project (you can raise more from the crowd, too). The funds will be distributed on a first-come, first-serve basis. The sooner you fill out a project application the better (use the "start a project" link below). 

Bold ideas and questions are encouraged to apply. We're biased towards projects that come from genuine curiosity and passion, less by projects that are seeking citations and status. Reach out if you have any questions. Better yet: start and submit your project!

Project Eligilibity

Projects must meet Experiment project guidelines and funding discretion rests with the Experiment Foundation science leads.

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