Scripps-Rady Ocean Plastic Pollution Challenge FAQs
FAQs About the Challenge
The Scripps-Rady Ocean Plastic Pollution Challenge is a unique 6-month accelerator program focused on identifying effective, evidence-based approaches that will curb the flow of plastic into the ocean, with a specific focus on marine conservation and marine cultural preservation areas along California’s coast. The program runs January - June, 2021, and participants will engage in a series of virtual short courses, team-based research, and a final two-day challenge to pitch solutions.
- The Challenge is a program of the Center for Marine Biodiversity and Conservation, Scripps Institution of Oceanography and the Center for Social Innovation and Impact (CSII) at the Rady School of Management, UC San Diego.
- There is no university credit offered for this program; and you do not need to be a UC San Diego student to apply. All nationalities are welcome to apply.
Our approach is to recruit people interested in solving the ocean plastic pollution problem, and to provide them with some of the elements needed to design solutions creatively and effectively. The accelerator program format provides time and space for participants to gain multidisciplinary expertise that will build a systems perspective of the plastic pollution problem, and spark innovative and thoughtful ideas and strategies.
We are working towards solutions that end the problem, not just clean up the problem that exists today. This requires a focus on upstream solutions to reduce plastic production and reduce the generation of plastic waste. The challenge will not focus on beach or ocean clean-ups.
The Scripps-Rady Ocean Plastic Pollution Challenge will emphasize the application of several strategies to address critical gaps in finding effective solutions, such as changing human behavior, evaluating solutions, and data mapping. California’s statewide network of marine protected areas are at risk from plastic pollution, and the Challenge will focus on these unique places as a case study in finding solutions.
The Challenge is a 6-month, multi-stage accelerator program:
- First, participants engage in a series of six short courses (virtual, 1.5 hours each) led by experts in the fields of natural science, behavioral science, economics, social entrepreneurship, policy and more to build interdisciplinary knowledge.
- Participants will then form teams and be supported by UC San Diego and other mentors while they investigate research questions to apply towards the plastics problem in California. Teams will work virtually, approximately 2 hours a week. Following an expert review, teams will virtually present their new findings, methodologies and approaches to all participants to inspire new ways of thinking about solutions.
- The grand event is a two-day challenge! Participants will be placed into multidisciplinary teams to develop innovative solutions to minimize plastic from entering the ocean and polluting specific sites within California’s marine conservation areas and marine cultural preservation areas. All teams will pitch their proposals, ideas, and solutions to an expert panel. The challenge will be held on the UC San Diego campus if policy and health guidelines permit; if not, then the challenge will be held virtually.
This program includes six virtual short courses, held in January - February, 2021:
- Plastic Pollution in the Ocean: Global and Regional Perspectives Moderator: Kristen Goodrich, Tijuana River National Estuarine Research Reserve
- Coastal Science & Data Mapping: California's Plastic Problem Moderator: Shelly Moore, San Francisco Estuary Institute
- Behavioral Science: Applications for Environmental and Social Change Moderator: Elke Weber, Princeton University
- A Systems Perspective for Environmental and Social Change Moderator: Eleanor Sterling, American Museum of Natural History
- Enabling Success: Strategies and Solutions Moderator: Wiinnie Lau, Pew
- Success Stories: Reducing Ocean Plastic Pollution Moderator: Nancy Knowlton, Smithsonian Institution
Following the short courses, participants will join one of four teams and investigate research questions to apply to the plastics problem in California. Teams worked from March - May, 2021:
- Changing Human Behavior. This team will dive into which strategies of behavioral science can be integrated into solutions in order to increase their effectiveness in minimizing plastic from entering the ocean.
- Evaluating Solutions. This team will dive into how to evaluate strategies and increase confidence that solutions at minimizing plastic from entering the ocean are working.
- Data Mapping. This team will dive into developing a map using trash surveys and oceanographic, economic, and other data to inform solutions that minimize plastic from entering the ocean.
- Yes! In my Backyard. This team will dive into assessing the capacity and attitude in San Diego towards plastic pollution prevention initiatives.
- The finale challenge is the culmination of the program. The format is a two-day hackathon-style challenge June 7-8, 2021.
- What is a hackathon? A hackathon is one way people come together to solve complex problems in a short amount of time. This challenge will integrate features of a hackathon by combining elements of collaboration (people work in teams) and competition (teams compete against each other) over a two-day period.
- Participants will be placed into teams for the challenge.
- During the challenge, participants will take everything they have learned throughout the program, combined with their own experience, and develop innovative solutions with their respective teams to minimize plastic from entering the ocean and polluting specific sites within California's marine conservation areas and marine cultural preservation areas.
- All teams will pitch their ideas, strategies, proposals, or plans to a judging panel.
- What is the outcome of the challenge? We don’t expect the challenge to solve the problem of ocean plastic pollution; however, we do expect to create something new that can make a positive impact and contribute towards solving the problem. The challenge will focus on upstream solutions, not trash removal or beach and ocean clean-ups.
- The public may attend the virtual finale event on June 8, 2021, 5:00 - 6:00 pm (pacific time). Teams will pitch their ideas and a winner will be announced live! Register for the event here.
We anticipate participants will spend approximately 37- 40 hours combined for the short courses and team work; plus two days for the challenge (and travel time to UC San Diego if the challenge is in-person). All short courses and team work will be virtual. Participants must commit to attending all short courses, team work, and the two-day challenge.
Breakdown of time commitment:
- Each virtual short course is 1.5 hours; there are a total of 6 short courses: 3 held in January, 2021; and 3 held in February, 2021; for a total of 9 hours.
- Teams will work approximately 2 hours a week (virtually) on a research theme throughout March and April, 2021.
- Check-in calls with teams and mentors; approximately 6 calls throughout March and April, 2021; approximately 1 hour per call.
- Teams will present findings to all participants and to expert reviewers in May, 2021; approximately 2 hours.
- Teams will prep findings for the challenge in May, 2021; approximately 2 hours.
- Participants will attend an in-person hackathon-style challenge held over 2 days on June 7-8, 2021. If we are not able to host the challenge in-person due to UC San Diego policy or health guidelines, then the challenge will be held virtually.
Key dates for participants:
- October 26, 2020: Applications open
- November 13, 2020: Applications close
- December 8, 2020: Applicants notified if accepted or waitlisted
- December 15, 2020: Accepted applicants must confirm participation or their place will be filled with someone on the waitlist
- January TBD, 2021: Short course (1.5 hours via Zoom)
- January TBD, 2021: Short course (1.5 hours via Zoom)
- January TBD, 2021: Short course (1.5 hours via Zoom)
- February TBD, 2021: Short course (1.5 hours via Zoom)
- February TBD, 2021: Short course (1.5 hours via Zoom)
- February TBD, 2021: Short course (1.5 hours via Zoom)
- March 2021: dates TBD to begin team work, check-ins via Zoom
- April 2021: dates TBD to continue team work, check-ins via Zoom
- May 2021: dates TBD to present team work findings via Zoom
- June 7 - 8, 2021: 2-day hackathon-style challenge at UC San Diego (in person if health guidelines allow)
- From January through May, 2021, the program is virtual; participants will engage in virtual short courses and virtual team work.
- On June 7-8, 2021, the two-day challenge will take place on the UC San Diego campus in San Diego, California. Social distancing guidelines will be followed.
- If we are not able to host this event in-person due to UC San Diego policy or health and safety guidelines, the challenge will be held virtually.
- The Challenge is a program of the Center for Marine Biodiversity and Conservation, Scripps Institution of Oceanography and the Rady School of Management at UC San Diego.
- This program is led by Stuart Sandin, professor and director of the Center for Marine Biodiversity and Conservation, and Ayelet Gneezy, professor of behavioral sciences and marketing at the Center for Social Innovation and Impact (CSII) at the the Rady School of Management, UC San Diego. Learn about the leadership team here.
- The Challenge grew out of a program called the Plastic Awareness Global Initiative. In 2018, that effort brought together scientists and NGOs to try to quantify how plastic pollution was getting into the ocean and what strategies were available to try to curtail it. Most of that work entailed discussions and some white papers, but was not focused on action. The Challenge is now building on this work to focus on spurring action in this space.
Participate in the Challenge
Whether you’re new to the ocean plastic pollution effort or have years of experience, we want you to join the Challenge!
We welcome people from all fields who would like to join forces to curb the flow of plastic into the ocean. We are seeking students, professionals, and entrepreneurs with an interest or background in relevant topics such as ocean and coastal sciences, behavioral sciences, data science, economics, engineering, policy, resource management, community engagement, and more.
There is no university credit offered for this program; and you do not need to be a UC San Diego student to apply.
Different cultures and experiences are valued as part of this program and we invite all nationalities to apply.
No! There are no fees to apply or to participate in the program. Most of the program will be held virtually. The two-day challenge will be held in person on the UC San Diego campus if campus policy and health and safety guidelines allow. If we are not able to host this event in-person, the challenge will be held virtually.
The program will cover hotel and airfare costs for eligible participants traveling from outside of the San Diego area.
How can I follow progress and updates from the Challenge if I am not a participant?
- Follow the Challenge on Linkedin, Instagram & Twitter
- Read the Challenge blog.
- Public reception during the challenge final event: TBD. If Covid-19 health and safety guidelines allow, there may be a limited number of spaces open to the public to attend the final challenge event, awards and reception on June 8, 2021.