SOCCOM Scientists help advance study of ocean acidification with XPRIZE funds

Oct. 16, 2015

SOCCOM scientists are working to expand observations of ocean acidification with a little help from an XPRIZE. SOCCOM Associate Director Ken Johnson is a lead scientist on Team Durafet, a top finisher in the Wendy Schmidt Ocean Health XPRIZE(Link is external) competition to develop accurate, stable and precise pH sensors for observing ocean chemistry. The team donated their $250,000 prize to the University of Washington Argo Group, headed by SOCCOM Observations Co-Lead Steve Riser, to enable the Argo program to expand its observations to include ocean acidification.

from left to right: Jim Hochstein – Sea-Bird Electronics; Bob Carlson – Honeywell; Ken Johnson – MBARI, SOCCOM; Lisa Graumlich – Dean, College of the Environment, UW; Ginger Armbrust – Director, School of Oceanography; UW, Jyotika Virmani – XPRIZE; Tom Mitchell – Sea-Bird Electronics

To read more about the prize and its impacts, read the stories linked below.

“Oceanography consortium donates XPrize winnings to UW sensor lab”(Link is external)

“Team of Leading Environmental and Aerospace Institutions Donates Wendy Schmidt Ocean Health XPRIZE Winnings to University of Washington Foundation”