Shell is sponsoring this year's $7 million Xprize for ocean mapping advancements, but as with other Xprizes, the sponsor isn't directly involved in the judging.
The latest Xprize offers a total of $7 million for teams that advance ocean-mapping technology. Although previous prizes focused on ocean cleanup and health, the initiative's goal is to ensure that oceans remain healthy, valued and understood, according to Jyotika Virmani, senior director of ocean discovery for the Wendy Schmidt Ocean Health XPRIZE.
Virmani noted that expense remains one of the main obstacles to seafloor mapping, so teams are encouraged to explore cost-saving approaches, such as launching devices from shore (so no ship is required).
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