In an effort to advance a sustainable blue economy in 撸sir视频ʻi, the University of 撸sir视频ʻi (CliRAIM) and , the world’s first aquaculture accelerator, hosted the AquaHack workshop in Kona, 撸sir视频ʻi on April 18. The blue economy refers to coastal- and ocean-based industries such as aquaculture, biotechnology or blue carbon, in which carbon dioxide is sequestered from the atmosphere to mitigate climate change.
CliRAIM, and Hatch Blue welcomed ocean stewards, technology trailblazers, entrepreneurs, engineers, innovators and scientists who seek to create positive social, environmental and economic change in 撸sir视频ʻi.
“We are particularly focused on advancing innovations for the blue economy in ways that are sustainable and culturally informed—a major goal is to identify strategies to generate more food locally and create livelihoods that improve our societal resilience,” said Erik Franklin, CliRAIM director and associate research professor at the in the 撸sir视频 Mānoa (SOEST). “For the AquaHack event, the participants generated exciting potential solutions to current challenges in aquaculture for both traditional Native 撸sir视频ian fishponds as well as modern aquaculture approaches.”
Taking talent to the next level
“We hope that the AquaHack eliminates barriers to progressing sustainable ocean-related food or business ideas,” said Dylan Howell, Hatch Blue Operations Manager, Americas. “The impetus for organizing the workshop was to help bring 贬补飞补颈ʻ颈’蝉 talent to their next level—we’ve now connected a solid network of innovators that will lead the charge.”
AquaHack was focused on acquainting people with varying and complementary skill sets. Whether attendees were innovators with a great idea who needed to network with talented, successful industry leaders, or entrepreneurs with technology in-hand who could benefit from expertise in sales and marketing, the event aimed to connect the dots. It provided an opportunity to engage, consult and form business relationships with industry experts from all over the blue economy supply chain.
CliRAIM is a program of a National Science Foundation-funded Development Engine led by 撸sir视频 that advances an equitable and inclusive regional innovation ecosystem for climate resilience, food security and renewable energy in 撸sir视频ʻi and the U.S. affiliated Pacific Islands.
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–By Marcie Grabowski