BARNACLE| Trash Cleanup

Project Details

Awards & Nominations

BARNACLE has received the following awards and nominations. Way to go!

Local Peoples' Choice Winner
Global Nominee

The Challenge | Trash Cleanup

Oceanic garbage patches are collections of marine debris that come together due to ocean currents; they have devastating effects on ocean ecosystems. Your challenge is to design a mission to help clean up garbage from the ocean!

Catch/Release

Watercraft attachable module that uses ferromagnetic fluid to draw micro-plastics from bodies of water. It gathers data to generate heat-maps of micro plastic concentrations to direct further filtering efforts.

BARNACLE

Overview

Barnacle is an idea of a company which we started making our system to research and clean micro-plastics in the Ocean, specifically the five large garbage patches in the North Pacific, South Pacific, North Atlantic, South Atlantic, and Indian Oceans.Our solution is to attach a modular research system to preexisting watercraft, such as cargo vessels or coastal guard ships, to track the density and concentration of micro-plastics in the ocean(s). As an accessory benefit, it will also help to remove micro-plastics out of the surface of water.



Links

Project Website and Details: https://sites.google.com/view/nasahackathon/home

Gitlab for simulation code: https://gitlab.com/rlaeoghks112/barnacle/tree/master

Link to fullscreen simulation: https://www.google.com/url?q=https://editor....

Google Drive with Presentation and financial documents: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1YIQwCrTcpSSln--rBx0f9L94c8cGQWO3?usp=sharing




Funding Research

• Government funding:Barnacle. Private company. Starting business.
Fundings applications:
https://www.mentorworks.ca/what-we-offer/government-funding/
British Columbia:
https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/employment-business/economic-development/funding-and-grants/canada-small-business-financing-program
Related news:
https://seawestnews.com/govt-funds-b-c-companies-to-fight-plastic-pollution/
Viable approaches:

• The Atlantic Innovation Fund (AIF) is a Canadian government funding program dedicated to supporting the research of innovative technologies. The program enables both private-sector research and collaborations with academia and research institutions. Projects should focus on commercially-viable technology development or adaptation. Amount: Business-led projects may receive up to 75% of expenses, Non-profit applicants may receive up to 80% of expenses. Maximum funding per project is capped at $3 million.
Timeline: Open. Businesses and research institutions may submit applications year-round. Projects should ideally be 18-38 months in duration, but can span several months to five years.
Eligibility: Businesses, research institutions, and academic institutions operating in Atlantic Canada (Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, and Prince Edward Island).


Research