February 3, 2022
About the Ocean Wise Innovator Lab:
The Ocean Wise Innovator Lab is a global project-based competition for youth aged 13-30, including university students, student clubs, high school students, youth-led organizations and startups, launching in 2022. The program’s objective is to elevate youth voices by providing mentorship from leading ocean experts and entrepreneurs, access to funding and educational resources that will help participating youth realize and share their innovative ocean health solutions. Participants will have the chance to learn from leaders in ocean health, including Ocean Wise’s in-house experts, purpose-driven ecopreneurs tackling ocean plastics and design thinking specialists, including Alexandra Cousteau, Co-Founder of Ocean 2050, Brad Liski, CEO of Tru Earth, Brian Hardwick, partner and impact strategist at Enso Collaborative, Laura Hardman, Director of Ocean Wise Plastics Initiative, Joe Mwakiremba, Business Development Executive at Ocean Sole Africa, Soraya Abdel-Hadi, Operations Manager for eXXpedition, Brianne Miller, Founder of Nada zero-waste grocery and Natalie Fee, environmental activist and author. During the three month program, participants will learn about issues impacting the ocean, in particular ocean plastics, and develop an innovation that tackles this problem. The program is inclusive by design and open to all youth aged 13-30 interested in taking direct action to change the trajectory of ocean health. Youth voices and ideas often go unheard and it remains difficult for youth to gain a seat at decision-making tables. The Ocean Wise Innovator Lab is changing this by elevating youth-led solutions to critical ocean health issues. The program seeks to empower youth to increase their participation in ocean conservation, create awareness of plastic pollution and spark direct action to tackle this pressing issue.