With a group of high school students, we proposed an idea in MIT Solve 2018 forum to heal ocean dead spots, to create a synthetic/organic coral reef, and a method to remove carbon dioxide and create an oxygen-rich environment to revive the ocean. I designed a programmable protocell smart material robotic Dome recreating a mobile “coral reef” (region-specific) that will sustain, protect, and develop new underwater habitats. The Dome is designed to be made of protocells to covert excess carbon dioxide in water into Calcium Carbonate, engineered to behave like organic microorganisms utilizing lipid membranes. Acting as a “carbon sink,” the Dome creates a safe haven for an oxygen rich zone and increases the pH of water where fish and marine life can co-create. The Dome will help save the ocean. http://www.revivetheocean.org

Our idea for the project to grow the Coral Reefs and developing the underwater habitat was unique, so we thought until the winner was announced! A team led by a professor at James Madison University, a team of professionals/engineers from Concursive Corporation presented a similar idea and won the competition. Though we did not win, I was very happy to see that “our” idea has won, and was in the right direction. It was cutting edge and able to be implemented! I am also proud of the unique idea I came up with to “use Protocell to convert Carbon dioxide into Calcium Carbonate or limestone” to grow Coral Reef! I am sure that I will find an opportunity to work on the Protocell based design in the future!!