Sample preparation in genomics is a critical step that is often overlooked in molecular workflows and impacts the success of downstream genetic applications. This study explores the use of a recently developed focused ultrasound extraction (FUSE) technique to enable the rapid release of DNA from plant tissues for genetic analysis.
The Seafood Harvesters of America, along with NOAA Fisheries scientists, Conservation X Labs, and Schmidt Marine Technology Partners, and Alaska Ocean Cluster, conducted an online survey targeting members of the fishing industry to identify and better understand technology priorities and needs. The goal of this survey was to create a list of technology priorities for the fishing industry that can be shared with funders and tech developers so that new tech both addresses fishing industry needs and provides business opportunities for developing products that are needed by a large consumer base.
Up to 90% of global coral reefs are predicted to be severely degraded by 2050 under “business-as-usual” scenarios.
To meet the scale and scope of this challenge, we propose designing and demonstrating a multi-modal system that can incorporate data from remote sensing (satellites, aircraft, and aerial drones), acoustics, genetics, sensor arrays, and low-cost imaging systems.
This program was officially endorsed by the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO on World Ocean Day as a Decade Action to drive ocean knowledge revolution.
Conservation X Labs collaborated with Dr. Felicia Yan Ng on research conducted for her Carnegie Mellon University PhD dissertation, centered around collaboration in online innovation competitions.
The findings provide practical guidance to organizations and researchers who are looking to advance innovation strategies and understandings of collaboration in online communities.
The Thylacine Biosciences team at Conservation X Labs is continuing to explore new methods for using DNA testing to combat illegal wildlife trade, monitor for invasive species, and more.
This research article documents the new approach they have recently developed and tested, to extract DNA samples using focused ultrasound extraction (FUSE).
The Thylacine team will use this method to make devices which simplify DNA extraction and sample preparation.
This guidebook, created by staff and community members at the Center for Scientific Collaboration and Community Engagement, is intended for scientific community managers, event organizers and conveners who are looking to design engaging and inclusive virtual events.
This section focuses on event formats, and acts as a recipe book of sorts from which you can pick and choose the event that meets your needs and those of your community. The guide contains 12 different recipes in 3 sections
This report provides an assessment of federal government capacities for the early detection of and rapid response to invasive species (EDRR) through advances in technology application; examples of emerging technologies for the detection, identification, reporting, and response to invasive species; and guidance for fostering further advancements in applicable technologies. Throughout the paper, we provide examples of how federal agencies are applying technologies to improve programmatic effectiveness and cost-efficiencies. We also highlight the outstanding technology-related needs identified by federal agencies to overcome barriers to enacting EDRR. Examples include improvements in research facility infrastructure, data mobilization across a wide range of invasive species parameters (from genetic to landscape scales), promotion of and support for filling key gaps in technological capacity (e.g., portable, field-ready devices with automated capacities), and greater investments in technology prizes and challenge competitions.
The problems facing freshwater ecosystems and developing economies need revolutionary, rather than evolutionary, solutions to scale over the next decade. Saving Water for Nature: Ten Grand Challenges for Water and Biodiversity Conservation outlines opportunities for technology and innovation to radically transform the future for freshwater ecosystems and the human communities that rely on them.
Over the course of 2018, Conservation X Labs conducted an extensive literature review and consultations, as well as researched past and ongoing prize and challenge competitions that address water and biodiversity conservation, to develop the Grand Challenges proposed in the Saving Water for Nature report.
Conservation has a scale problem. Our conservation interventions remain piecemeal, marginal, and highly-site specific, yet ecological change and degradation are accelerating and consumer material demand increasing rapidly. In the face of such radical environmental change, we must fundamentally rethink and scale our approach to conservation to match the magnitude of the challenge.
While critics argue that the nature of conservation requires highly local interventions and point to past failed attempts to scale, we argue that there are scalable solutions in conservation, and it’s a matter of overcoming the process challenge and being more strategic in the means elected for scaling. We examine products and solutions in the private sector, social entrepreneurship, and other international development fields to learn what approaches led to successful scaling. The article concludes with a synthesis of these applied lessons from other fields in tailored list of applied guidelines to scale in conservation.
There is broad recognition that ocean ecosystems and the human systems they support face new threats in the 21st century. From plastics pollution to acidification and warming to overfishing and invasive species, ocean conservation will require innovative technologies and approaches that ensure the future of our oceans.
Conservation X Labs signature report, Launching the Grand Challenges of Oceans Conservation, lays out the ten most pressing problems facing the oceans and the technologies required to address them. This report was the basis of The Blue Economy Challenge, a challenge competition on sustainable aquaculture in partnership with the Australian government, and Oceans X Labs, the first conservation technology accelerator in partnership with World Wildlife Fund.
