Innovation Awards on the Pier: Honoring Pioneering Scientists Through Triton's Challenge

The Triton Innovation Challenge, a business competition focused on environmentally friendly technologies, recently concluded at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD). The event, a partnership among UCSD's Rady School of Management, Jacobs School of Engineering, and an unspecified organization, saw five teams advance to the finals, with BIC LIDAR emerging as the first place winner.

BIC LIDAR, a startup from UCSD's electrical and computer engineering department, presented their compact, relatively inexpensive solid state lasers for LIDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) applications. These technologies have potential uses in wildfire detection in forestry and autonomous vehicles.

The Green Stop, led by Scripps researcher Rachel Labbé-Bellas, took second place. The Green Stop aims to remove 42 million water bottles from California's waste stream annually, saving the state $4.4 million on beach and waterway cleanup. The solar-powered, filtered water refill station is currently in the design phase, with plans to implement pilot models at several beaches in the near future.

The Audience Award of $2,500 was won by The Green Stop. Labbé-Bellas stated that the funds will help her team garner engineering support for the overall design and collect market data on beachgoer value.

Smartfin, another project presented at the competition, aims to collect ocean data using surfboard fins equipped with sensors. Phil Bresnahan, a Scripps engineer, explained that Smartfin becomes a tool for citizen scientists, helping collect valuable data and insights while enjoying their hobby. Smartfin also aims to communicate critical ocean health issues, as coastal management decisions rely on accurate data "and we simply don't have enough," according to Bresnahan.

E-Way, a collaboration between students at Rady and JSOE, took third place. E-Way is developing technology to safely electrify roads using solar panels.

The semifinalists participated in a three-week pitch and business development course called the Scripps Innovation Bootcamp. This year, 27 applications were received, and 10 semifinalists were selected, with half of them based at Scripps Oceanography, a record number.

The Triton Innovation Challenge concluded with thanks from Leinen and Sullivan for all teams' participation, emphasizing the critical partnership among the three UCSD departments involved. The competition is funded by the William and Kathryn Scripps Family Foundation.

Scripps Oceanography is one of the world's most important centers for global earth science research and education, offering unparalleled education and training for the next generation of scientific and environmental leaders. The competition showcases the innovative work being done at UCSD to address environmental challenges and contribute to a sustainable future.

Innovation Awards on the Pier: Honoring Pioneering Scientists Through Triton's Challenge