Ocean Innovator Award

Recognizing and promoting innovative ocean-related research and applied solutions.

The Ocean Innovator Award recognizes and promotes innovative ocean-related research and applied solutions. We are particularly interested in projects that create unique solutions to salient ocean and coastal topics, such as renewable energy, conservation, and beyond. Top winners will be selected based on the quality and originality of their research. Winners will receive a cash prize up to $2,000 and be featured on an Ocean Innovators Webinar to elevate their work across the nation.

Eligibility: This award is open to early career individuals (loosely defined as up to 3 years into your career) in ocean, coastal, or estuarine fields, including current students. There are no specific restrictions on the location, topic, or theme of the project, as long as the project clearly relates to ocean, coastal, or estuarine environments. We encourage applications from various disciplines and approaches. Projects can be in any stage of the process; we will consider projects with unfinished results. If you have specific questions about eligibility, please contact us at info@sea-shoresolutions.com

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Applications are closed

Thank you to those that applied for the 2026 Ocean Innovator Awards! Your submissions are currently in review and we anticipate announcing winners in early April.

The next opportunity to apply will open in early 2027.

Previous Award Cycles

  • 2025 Awards

    1st Place Winner

    Patrick Nichols, Ph.D. Candidate, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa

    Using innovative eDNA technology, including passive samplers and species-specific assays, researchers detected an invasive alga in the Marshall Islands, extending its known range.

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    2nd Place Winner

    Elizabeth Farquhar, Research Specialist, North Carolina State University

    SEACOW is a low-cost (~$1,400) IoT device for estimating air–water ΔpCO2 in coastal areas. Utilizing an affordable sensor, SEACOW achieves 2-3% accuracy compared to high-end instruments and minimizes drift, a common issue with low-cost sensors. This innovation allows for more affordable monitoring of air-sea CO2 exchange, aiding biogeochemical research.

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    3rd Place Winner

    Jessi Florendo, Program Coordinator and Marine Restoration Practitioner, Puget Sound Restoration Fund

    Bull kelp is declining in Puget Sound. To address this, Jessi and their team piloted 'kelp gardening,' a low-tech, community-driven restoration approach. Using biodegradable materials and local seed, they streamlined the outplanting process, making it accessible to property owners and the public.

    View Project

    watch the webinar

  • 2024 Awards

    1st Place Winner

    Arona Bender, Ph.D. Student at Duke University.

    Explore groundbreaking drone technology equipped with thermal infrared sensors to monitor nesting activity across multiple beaches, revolutionizing traditional conservation efforts.

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    2nd Place Winner

    Pilar Rodriguez, Cetacean Conservation Biology Apprentice, Marine Mammal Center.

    Discover how innovative methodologies leveraging radar sensors and cameras are transforming whale-ship strike risk assessments in urban areas with high vessel traffic like the San Francisco Bay.

    View Project

    watch the webinar