Crowdsourced Projects
In addition to our crowdsourced ideas, science specialists at the Benioff Ocean Science Laboratory are working on a set of ocean change projects. See list of global priorities for improving ocean health identified by the Benioff Ocean Science Laboratory (formerly the Benioff Ocean Initiative) in 2019.
Cutting River Plastic Waste
Rivers around the world funnel plastic waste into the ocean at an alarming rate, causing harmful effects on ocean animals, coastal economies, and human health. We are partnering with The Coca-Cola Foundation to provide a combined $11 million to address this problem. The fund supports the Clean Currents Coalition, a network of interdisciplinary teams working across the globe to launch pilot projects to capture plastic waste from polluted rivers and create behavior change through community outreach campaigns. Click below to learn more.Reducing Whale-Ship Collisions
Fatal ship collisions are one of the main threats facing endangered whales. The Benioff Ocean Science Laboratory and partners have launched Whale Safe, a technology-based mapping and analysis tool that collects and displays near real-time whale and ship data to help prevent whale-ship collisions. It is the first near real-time, actionable whale notification system that incorporates AI-powered ocean sensors, big data models, citizen science, and ship tracking data.Other Initiatives
Sharks and AI
Although scientists have been studying sharks for years, we still don’t know exactly where and when juvenile sharks will show up along the California coast each year. In a collaborative effort to build our understanding of shark behavior and help our local Santa Barbara community safely enjoy the ocean, the Benioff Ocean Science Laboratory, Salesforce AI Research and San Diego State University are using Artificial Intelligence (AI) and drone technology to detect great white sharks in coastal California waters.
Marine parks
Scientists in the Benioff Ocean Science Laboratory provided marine research to ocean conservation leaders to help inspire the recent expansion of the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument – now the largest protected area (land or sea) on the planet. This ocean park is a safe haven for sharks, sea turtles, dolphins, and manta rays.
Deep sea mining
A gold rush in the oceans may be about to begin. Over 1 million square kilometers of ocean have been marked out for deep sea mining. In the Benioff Ocean Science Laboratory, we are collecting the best science and data available on when and where deep sea mining is starting and how it may influence ocean ecosystems.
Ocean extinctions
Up until now, there have been far fewer animal extinctions in the ocean than on land. This is exactly how we want to keep things. Research in the Benioff Ocean Science Laboratory has carefully reviewed the causes and patterns of extinction in the oceans operating under the premise that the best way to limit ocean extinction is to understand it well.
