Page 52: of Marine Technology Magazine (March 2014)

NonproÞ t organization XPRIZE creates and manag- es large-scale, high-proÞ le competitions that aim to stimulate research and development solutions to grand problems across a number of scientiÞ c Þ elds. The group has previously held competitions targeting advances in personalized medicine, automotive fuel efÞ cien-cy, oil cleanup and privatized space exploration, to name a few. For its latest competition, XPRIZE has partnered with the Wendy Schmidt Foundation to launch the $2 million Wendy Schmidt Ocean Health XPRIZE to spur global innovators to develop ocean pH sensors that it says will transform under- standing of ocean acidiÞ cation.According to XPRIZE, the oceans absorb about one quar- ter of CO2 that humans release into the atmosphere, causing changes in water chemistry and increases in ocean acidity. ÒOcean acidity is a serious threat we are only beginning to understand,Ó said ocean philanthropist Wendy Schmidt. ÒIt could have signiÞ cant ecological and societal implications, changing the health of entire ecosystems, affecting the global economy and the biodiversity of the planet.Ó The competitionÕs goal is to ultimately catalyze responses to the pressing changes in ocean acidity by propelling the devel- Instrumentation XX(Prize) (Prize) Marks the Spot Marks the Spot By Eric Haun By Eric Haun Wanted: Ocean pH Sensor Technology Reward: $2 Million Quick FactsWhat: Wendy Schmidt Ocean Health XPRIZE Prize pool: $2m Deadline: June 30, 2014 Entry fee: $1,000 per team until March 31 $2,500 from April 1 Web: www.xprize.org March 2014 52 MTRMTR #2 (50-65).indd 52MTR #2 (50-65).indd 522/21/2014 11:28:26 AM2/21/2014 11:28:26 AM