Congratulations to SeaAhead’s BlueGreen Innovation Challenge Finalists!

11th Hour Racing is proud to sponsor SeaAhead’s BlueGreen Innovation Challenge in Rhode Island. Check out the latest news below.

The BlueGreen Innovation Challenge is a systems design competition that supports novel approaches to interconnected challenges in Rhode Island. The Challenge leverages a key asset in southern New England — its students — to conceive and develop BIG ideas at the energy-food-urban community-coastal nexus.

In Phase 2 of the Challenge, finalists will receive mentorship, compete for $16,500 in cash prizes, and have an opportunity to work with local stakeholders to implement their designs, following the conclusion of the competition.

Meet the Finalists

From Fryer to Fuel: A Ferry Biodiesel Conversion Pilot Program
Jason Walsh — University of Rhode Island, Environmental & Natural Resource Economics (2018)
John Burley — Brown University, Ecology & Evolutionary Biology (2022)

The Valorization of Oyster Shell Waste as a Bio-Filter Media in The Port of Providence’s Stormwater Management Infrastructure
Claire Hodson — University of Rhode Island, Environmental Science & Management (2018)
Jessica Vandenberg — University of Rhode Island, Marine Affairs (2020)

Shellfish Farming on the Block Island Wind Farm
Zoe Lee — Rhode Island School of Design, Industrial Design (2023)
Caleb Callaway — Rhode Island School of Design, Industrial Design (2024)
Louis Hand — Rhode Island School of Design, Industrial Design (2022)
Geneva Casalegno — Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Mechanical Engineering (2021)

The Intersection of Electrified Rhode Island Ports and Local Food Waste
Muram Bacare — Rhode Island School of Design, Architecture (2022)

MissionHydro: Hydrogen Batteries for Port Electrification
Sarvesh Handa — UMass Lowell, Engineering & Computer Science (2023)
Ryan Beishline — UMass Lowell, Mechanical Engineering (2023)
Aadith Arasu — UMass Lowell, Physics & Computer Science (2023)
Ali Semerci — UMass Lowell, Mechanical Engineering (2023)

A “Kelping” Hand for Rhode Island: Realizing the Potential of IMTA
Emma Kaufmann — Brown University, Engineering (2021)
Graham Keely — Brown University, Engineering (2021)
Meta Austin — Brown University, Engineering (2021)
Jasmine Gabor — Brown University, Engineering (2021)

Integrating Wave Energy Conversion & Data Collection Buoy Systems
Marcello Nicoletti — Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Mechanical Engineering (2021)
Clayton Richardson — Northeastern University, Architecture (2022)

Harnessing Ocean Energy to Increase Coastal Resilience
Alexander Kamper — Brown University, Computer Science & Geography (2022)

To learn more, or to become a mentor click here.

Header image credit: SeaAhead