*By Madison Alworth* Ocean pollution is a problem only [expected](http://web.unep.org/unepmap/un-declares-war-ocean-plastic) to get worse, and the Endowment for Clean Oceans is hoping to find viable solutions to our plastic problem. So the organization is offering big money to citizens who want to clean up the environment. "We have two contests," Daniel Perrin, the agency's founder, said Wednesday in an interview on Cheddar. "One is for $1 million for the best idea or technology to remove the plastic that's in the ocean now. And the second contest is for $5 million to create an economically viable, workable, biodegradable alternative to plastics." There are [5 trillion pieces](https://www.forbes.com/sites/niallmccarthy/2017/03/21/the-worlds-oceans-are-infested-with-over-5-trillion-pieces-of-plastic-infographic/#159e83adab76) of plastic floating in the ocean. Interestingly, ocean pollution is one cause many voters seem to rally behind, regardless of political alignment. According to a recent survey from Zogby Analytics, [81 percent](https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180829005005/en/Finally-Divided-America-81-Agree-Poll-Commissioned) of voters polled were concerned about the plastic in the ocean. ECO wants to encourage all inventors to get involved in solving that problem. The competition and prizes will be divided among three groups. ECO is calling for submissions from "corporations and universities," "garage inventors," and "lower-school students." ECO anticipates that the corporation-university solution group will take home the $1 million prize, the garage inventor will receive a significant investment in their company, and the student will win a full scholarship to a school of his or her choice. Pierre-Yves Cousteau has been tapped to be a judge for the ECO Science and Technology Committee. The son of world-renowned conservationist, author, and filmmaker Jacques-Yves Cousteau is [continuing](https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2011/09/a-conversation-with-pierre-yves-cousteau-conservationist/244867/) his father's legacy of studying and protecting oceans. "I've been diving all over the world for the past 15 years, and I have yet to do a single dive where I don't encounter plastic," Cousteau told Cheddar Wednesday. Cousteau and Perrin hope the [competition](https://www.endowmentforcleanoceans.org/) will inspire inventors to think more creatively. "The plastic technology hasn't changed for 50 years. It's about time we upgraded to a ceramic or something that, when it gets in the ocean, it will not stay for 600 years like some of the industrial fishing lines are now," Perrin said. For full interview [click here](https://cheddar.com/videos/finding-a-solution-to-plastic-pollution).

Share:
More In Science
Breakthroughs in MDMA-Assisted Therapy to Treat PTSD; Music, Artificial Intelligence, and Psychedelics Combining to Treat Depression
On this episode of Cheddar Reveals, Natalie Ginsberg, Global Impact Officer, MAPS, discusses the MAPS organization and its current initiatives and their work to get FDA approval for MDMA to treat PTSD; Kelsey Ramsden, Co-Founder, President & CEO, Mind Cure Health, breaks down what 'psychedelic therapy' could look like once it's legalized and how Mind Cure Health is using AI to help treat everything from addiction to depression; Cheddar gets a look at Curiosity Stream's 'Pain, Pus and Poison.'
New Tech Firm PulseForge Looks to Reduce Emissions From Manufacturing
Stan Farnsworth, chief marketing officer at PulseForge, joined Cheddar to talk about his company's debut at CES 2022 and how it plans to innovate the sustainable tech manufacturing space. PulseForge is bringing a new approach to industrial thermal processing, which contributes to 30 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions, according to Farnsworth. "By using 85 percent less energy in the processing of materials through a variety of manufacturing processes, we can make a direct impact in reducing carbon output and reducing carbon footprint associated with manufacturing," he said.
Vaccination Mandate for Crossing U.S. Border to Go Into Effect
The U.S. will be implementing a vaccine mandate for all people entering through its land borders, removing exemptions for "essential" travelers such as truckers, students, and business people. While the Canadian Trucking Alliance argues that the new, stricter rule might exacerbate ongoing auto supply chain issues, some health experts see the potential for helping curb the ongoing pandemic. Anthony Santella, a professor of health administration at the University of New Haven, joined Cheddar to give his take on the updated border crossing restriction. "We can't just focus on one type of travel. We need to ensure that it's clear and consistent across all types of travel," Santella said.
Space VIP Announces NYC's Space Prize Challenge
To encourage and inspire young women to pursue careers in STEAM, or science, technology, engineering, arts, and math, Space VIP has officially launched its New York Space Prize Challenge. Young women enrolled in the public school system within New York's five boroughs and are between the ages of 15 to 18 are welcomed to participate. Executive Director of Space Prize, Kim Macharia, joined Cheddar to discuss more.
Behind Australian Judges Ruling for Allowing Novak Djokovic Deportation
The drama surrounding tennis star Novak Djokovic continues after he was deported from Australia over the weekend due to the nation's COVID-19 vaccine requirements. Djokovic was forced to leave the country on the eve of what was to be his first match in defense of his Australian Open title after three judges ruled in favor of his removal and revealed their reasoning for doing so. Adding to his woes, a law recently passed in France is putting his chances of defending his French Open title in jeopardy. The director of Marist's Center for Sports Communication, Jane McManus, joined Cheddar to discuss the ongoing fallout.
Load More