A novel biorefinery process with material and energy circulation by reusing by-products

Designing a process that maximizes the effective use of biomass resources

Peer-Reviewed Publication

TOKYO UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURE AND TECHNOLOGY

 

IMAGE: THE CONCEPTUAL DIAGRAM OF THIS STUDY view more 

CREDIT: RYU UKAWA-SATO, TOKYO UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURE AND TECHNOLOGY

The research team of Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology (TUAT) has designed and developed a novel recycling process for producing biomass-derived chemicals by reusing the by-products of the target product. In this study, the research team demonstrated a self-sustaining process that minimizes the usage of external utilities in the chemical process by numerical simulations. This achievement has significantly contributed to energy conservation by reusing by-products, which had been disposed of in the conventional process in the chemical process to ensure profitability. In addition, while previous processes were designed on a large scale, this study was designed with a biomass supply feasible in all regions. This is a completely different approach from conventional processes. With this achievement, we can significantly reduce petroleum usage in chemical processes to establish a recycling-oriented society in the future. In addition, for regional revitalization, it is expected to create a chemical industry for local production for local consumption using agricultural and forestry waste in mountainous regions.

The results have been published in Chemical Engineering Research and Design on March 1st, 2022.

Biomass is the renewable carbon resource that can replace fossil resources in chemical production. Among the biomass-derived chemicals, levulinic acid (LA) is attracting attention as a platform chemical because it can be synthesized from cellulose, which makes up about 50% of woody biomass, and is a precursor for a wide range of substances from pharmaceuticals to bio-fuels. Conventional LA production processes from biomass are large-scale processes with an annual biomass supply of more than 120,000 tonnes, and had challenges in effectively utilizing all biomass resources.

In response, this research team has developed a process that minimizes the supply of external utilities by reusing by-products produced during the production of LA from biomass as much as possible while still being able to supply all of the required energy from the combustion of by-products. Specifically, by reusing the by-product formic acid as a catalyst, using a chemical called furfural obtained from biomass as an extraction solvent to purify LA, and combusting the solid by-products, the total process energy was reduced and supplied by itself. Furthermore, it was found that the excess solid by-products could be effectively utilized for building materials and other purposes. We also found that using river water could provide all the cooling needed. The amount of river water is less than 0.12% of the minimum annual volume flow in the middle reaches of the Naka River in Tochigi Prefecture, located in a rural area of Japan.

Regarding economics, the minimum selling price of LA produced by this process was $9.59 per kilogram, which was higher than the market price of $7.17 per kilogram. The reason is due to the fact that this process allows for thin profit margins to some extent, which is an advantage of large-scale processes, and also because no separation and purification of by-products are performed. According to the above points, it can be said that the results of this research indicate that this process can be fully implemented in society for a locally produced and consumed chemical industry using agricultural and forestry waste in mountainous regions.

Credit:  Chihiro Fushimi/TUAT

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This work was supported by the Doctoral Program for World-leading Innovative & Smart Education of Tokyo university of Agriculture and Technology (WISE Program of TUAT): "Excellent Leader Development for Super Smart Society by New Industry Creation and Diversity" granted by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT), Japan.

For more information about the Fushimi laboratory, please visit https://web.tuat.ac.jp/~cfushimi/index_e.html

 

Original publication

Design and Techno–Economic Analysis of Levulinic Acid Production Process from Biomass by Using Co-product Formic Acid as a Catalyst with Minimal Waste Generation
Ryu Ukawa-Sato, Nanami Hirano, Chihiro Fushimi
Chemical Engineering Research and Design 192, 389-401, 2023
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cherd.2023.02.046

 

About Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology (TUAT)

TUAT is a distinguished university in Japan dedicated to science and technology. TUAT focuses on agriculture and engineering that form the foundation of industry, and promotes education and research fields that incorporate them. Boasting a history of over 140 years since our founding in 1874, TUAT continues to take on new challenges boldly and steadily promote fields. With high ethics, TUAT fulfills social responsibility in the capacity of transmitting science and technology information towards the construction of a sustainable society where both human beings and nature can thrive in a symbiotic relationship. For more information, please visit http://www.tuat.ac.jp/en/.

 

Contact

Chihiro Fushimi, Ph.D.
Professor, Department of Chemical Engineering, TUAT, Japan
cfushimi@cc.tuat.ac.jp

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JOURNAL

Chemical Engineering Research and Design

DOI

10.1016/j.cherd.2023.02.046 

ARTICLE TITLE

Design and Techno–Economic Analysis of Levulinic Acid Production Process from Biomass by Using Co-product Formic Acid as a Catalyst with Minimal Waste Generation

LED imaging visually confirms oral suction device efficacy in droplet and aerosol reduction

Peer-Reviewed Publication

TOHOKU UNIVERSITY

 

IMAGE: REDUCTION OF AEROSOL DROPLET DISPERSION BY THE COMBINATION OF INTRA-ORAL SUCTION (IOS) AND EXTRA-ORAL SUCTION (EOS). view more 

CREDIT: 2023 JAPAN PROSTHODONTIC SOCIETY

Many infectious diseases, such as COVID-19, are known to spread through aerosols and droplets suspended in the air. Therefore, it is necessary to fully understand the hazards of aerosols and droplets presented during dental treatment.

Using a dental air turbine and a mannequin, researchers at Tohoku University recreated the droplets and aerosols that occur during dental procedures. The key is the high-sensitivity camera and high-intensity LED light source, which allowed for high-quality images of the droplet spreading during the simulated procedure, which was previously difficult to do in real-time without dye. Then, extra-oral suction (EOS) and intra-oral suction (IOS) were used to determine how well these oral suction devices work. Using these techniques, the researchers reduced droplet and aerosol spread within the air by 97.8% when both EOS and IOS were used, and a 92.1% reduction using IOS alone.

The researchers published their results on February 22 in the Journal of Prosthodontic Research.

"Since the droplets and aerosols ("spray" and "mist") generated during dental treatment contain bacteria and viruses derived from saliva and blood, elucidation of their spreading and diffusion dynamics is required from the perspective of COVID-19 prevention," said Jun Watanabe, author and researcher at Tohoku University. And saliva is not the only component that can aerosolize and cause issues either. Different materials can produce different aerosols; silicon, calcium, potassium, and zinc have been recorded in air samples from dental clinics. Inhalation of fine dust, mainly silica, can lead to respiratory issues in frequently exposed individuals. Understanding the spread and diffusion of such particles in the air is a key step in successfully protecting individuals from potentially harmful diseases that can be spread through airborne droplets.

It's also worth noting that the work being done on the patient can alter the directionality or spread of the droplets. For example, researchers found that treatments for cavities on the anterior teeth are the most likely to be associated with droplet spreading. Furthermore, the correct placement of the oral suction devices is important, with the most effective positioning of the EOS device found to be about 10 centimeters away from the patient's mouth at a 0º angle.

"Analysis in various clinical situations is expected to elucidate the dynamics of dental treatment-derived droplets and aerosols and lead to the establishment of new dental treatment protocols, the development of air purification equipment, and the development of a cleaner and safer dental care environment," said Hiroyasu Kanetaka, author and researcher at the Liaison Center for Innovative Dentistry at Tohoku University.

While this study confirmed the effectiveness of IOS and EOS at reducing droplets in the air during dental treatment, some limitations will require future testing. The mannequin could not simulate breathing or exhalation, which may produce differing results. Moreover, the mannequin's lack of accurate lip and tongue morphology could also have impacted some results. Further investigations using a patient model will be required to clarify the efficacy of these oral suction devices.

Video 1 [VIDEO] 

A video demonstrating the R¥reduction of aerosol droplet dispersion by the combination of intra-oral suction (IOS) and extra-oral suction (EOS)

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JOURNAL

Journal of Prosthodontic Research

DOI

10.2186/jpr.JPR_D_23_00013 

New technology for dramatic reduction of daily odors

KIST developed an annealing activated carbon that improves the adsorption efficiency of nitrogen-containing odorous compounds by up to 38 times, The multidentate adsorption mechanism of nitrogen-containing odorous gases such as ammonia was revealed for th

Peer-Reviewed Publication

NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

 

IMAGE: ADSORPTION MECHANISMS OF HEAT-DRIED ACTIVATED CARBON AND ADSORPTION PERFORMANCE OF NITROGEN-CONTAINING ODOROUS COMPOUNDS view more 

CREDIT: KOREA INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

Odorous gases, which are unpleasant and strongly irritating to the eyes, nose, and respiratory tract, are ubiquitous in facilities such as septic tanks, sewage systems, livestock farms, and waste disposal plants. These gases exert a negative impact on the human body as well as the surrounding environment, thus numerous ways have been developed to eliminate them. Typical odor removal methods use activated carbon as an adsorbent. However, activated carbon has low recyclability, making it difficult to remove the sources of complex odorous gases for reuse.

A research team led by Dr. Jiwon Lee and Youngtak Oh of the Sustainable Environment Research Center at the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST, President Seok-Yeol Yoon) announced that they developed an activated carbon manufacturing technology that dramatically improves the removal of four representative nitrogen-containing odorous compounds (NOCs) from air: ammonia, ethylamine, dimethylamine, and trimethylamine. Not only did the research team improve the adsorption efficiency of activated carbon for removing odor substances, but they have also discovered the adsorption mechanism between adsorbents and odorous gases, making it possible to develop a wider variety of adsorbents for complex odor substances.

The research team was able to precisely control the degree of surface oxidation to increase the adsorption efficiency of NOCs through an thermal annealing process after oxidizing the activated carbon with nitric acid. They found that the most oxidized heat-treated activated carbon could increase the removal efficiency of odor substances by up to 38 times compared to conventional activated carbon. For the first time, the researchers revealed that the oxygen atoms on the surface of oxidized activated carbon form strong hydrogen bonds with the amines in nitrogen-containing odor molecules. This finding reflects the principle of optimizing the adsorption effect of NOCs by increasing the degree of oxidation so that more hydrogen bonds can be formed with amines on the surface of activated carbon. Furthermore, the research team also demonstrated that unlike typical gas reactions, the interaction between the adsorbent and odor substances was primarily influenced by the number of hydrogen bonds, rather than proton affinity.

Furthermore, thermally dried activated carbon(TDAC) was found increase selectivity for trimethylamine by more than 13 times. This result represents a substantial improvement, as trimethylamine has the lowest adsorption efficiency among conventional NOCs. Trimethylamine, a designated odor substance regulated by law in Korea, is a typical source of odors in agriculture, landfills, and sewage and waste water treatment plants. In particular, the heat-dried activated carbon has an average recyclability of 93.8% for trimethylamine, showing high economic efficiency compared to the 63% recyclability of conventional activated carbon.

"By identifying the adsorption mechanism of odorous gases, we can develop materials that are specialized for removing specific gases, and heat-dried activated carbon, which undergoes an oxidation process, is relatively simple to produce and can be reused. Thus, it can be applied as a material for purification devices such as filters and masks,” claimed Dr. Jiwon Lee of KIST.

  

DFT calculation result and nitrogen-containing odorous compound selectivity of heat-dried activated carboN

CREDIT

Korea Institute of Science and Technology

KIST was established in 1966 as the first government-funded research institute in Korea. KIST now strives to solve national and social challenges and secure growth engines through leading and innovative research. For more information, please visit KIST’s website at https://eng.kist.re.kr/

This research was conducted through the KIST Major Projects supported by the Ministry of Science and ICT, and the results were published in the latest issue of the Journal of Cleaner Production (IF: 11.072, top 8.423% in JCR), an international journal in the environmental science field.

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JOURNAL

Journal of Cleaner Production

DOI

10.1016/j.jclepro.2023.136261 

ARTICLE TITLE

Adsorption Enhancement of Hazardous Odor Gas using Controlled Thermal Oxidation of Activated Carbon

New Study Suggests Cold Imagery Creates Perception of Newness in Advertisements

Researchers from Japan show that ads with imagery conveying a feeling of coldness can positively influence consumer behavior and perception about a product

Peer-Reviewed Publication

SOPHIA UNIVERSITY

 

IMAGE: ALTHOUGH COLDNESS OFTEN HAS A NEGATIVE CONNOTATION, SCIENTISTS HAVE RECENTLY SHOWN THAT COLD IMAGERY IN VISUAL ADS CAN HELP CONVEY AN IDEA OF "NEWNESS" IN A MARKETED PRODUCT. view more 

CREDIT: TAKU TOGAWA FROM SOPHIA UNIVERSITY, JAPAN

In visual advertisements, the imagery that accompanies the actual pictures of a product is extremely important. Multiple studies and surveys have shown that these images can help evoke specific feelings and communicate key brand- or product-related concepts to consumers. For example, showing accompanying images of lush nature in an ad can instill an idea of "greenness" or "eco-friendliness." While many different consumer perceptions have been analyzed thoroughly, few studies have focused on how the idea of "newness" can be better communicated to consumers, which is defined as the extent to which a product is perceived as new, innovative, or creative.

To address this knowledge gap, a research team led by Associate Professor Taku Togawa from Sophia University, Japan, investigated whether newness can be conveyed in a rather unexpected way: using cold imagery. “Coldness often has a negative connotation; for example, people regularly use expressions such as “She gave me the cold shoulder” or “His comment froze me in place.” Indeed, consumer researchers have shown that warm temperatures increase consumers’ evaluation and purchase intention for a given product more than cold temperatures,” explains Assoc. Prof. Togawa, “However, our study sought to prove that, in the context of advertising for new products, coldness is not always a negative factor in consumer behavior.” This work was co-authored by Dr. Hiroaki Ishii from Aoyama Gakuin University, Dr. Jaewoo Park from Chuo University, and Rajat Roy from Bond University, and their paper was made available online on March 1 2023 and published in Volume 160 in May 2023 in the Journal of Business Research.

First, the researchers considered the psychological mechanisms of newness perception using construal level theory (CLT). In short, CLT is a social psychological theory that states that the way people construe or interpret an object depends on the "psychological distance" between them and the object. When an object is psychologically distant, people tend to perceive it in more abstract and general terms, focusing on its broader features and meaning.

Based on a previous finding that the perception of coldness can increase a subject’s psychological distance to an event or object, Assoc. Prof. Togawa and colleagues theorized that cold imagery could be leveraged to enhance the perception of newness for a product. Put simply, by amplifying the psychological distance to a product using cold imagery, the consumer’s perceived ambiguity about that product will increase, which in turn will cause them to identify it as "novel" and engage their curiosity.

The team verified various aspects of their hypothesis by conducting four different experiments. In each, an online survey was sent to over a hundred participants, which were shown fake product ads with accompanying "cold" or "warm" imagery. For example, one ad for a car either had an accompanying photograph of a snowy landscape or a sunny green field.

The first experiment confirmed that coldness was indeed statistically associated with a higher perception of newness in the survey participants. Meanwhile, the answers in the second experiment verified that coldness led to a higher psychological distance, and therefore higher perceived ambiguity and newness. The third experiment showed that using cold imagery was effective at increasing perceived newness for modern-looking products, but not for antique-style products. Finally, the fourth experiment indicated that the perceived newness enhanced by cold imagery improved the consumer’s evaluation of the advertised product, but only when they were hypothetically planning to buy it in the distant future rather than in the short term.

Taken together, these findings provide much insight about how coldness can be effectively leveraged in visual advertising. “Our results will contribute to building a theoretical framework explaining how newness perception is communicated through advertising,” highlights Assoc. Prof. Togawa, “We believe marketers may be able to communicate product newness more easily, quickly, and inexpensively by using background imagery related to coldness in their advertisements rather than altering the style and features of the product itself, which is costly.”

With any luck, further insight into this topic will help marketers fully employ the power of coldness to get their message across!

 

Reference

【Title of original paper】The temperature of newness: How vision–temperature correspondence in advertising influences newness perception and product evaluation

【DOI】10.1016/j.jbusres.2023.113801

【Journal】Journal of Business Research

【Authors】Taku Togawa1, Hiroaki Ishii2, Jaewoo Park3, Rajat Roy4

【Affiliations】1Sophia University, Faculty of Economics, Department of Management,2Aoyama Gakuin University, School of Business, Department of Marketing, 3Chuo University, Faculty of Commerce, Department of Marketing and Trade, 4Bond University, Bond Business School

 

About Sophia University

Established as a private Jesuit affiliated university in 1913, Sophia University is one of the most prestigious universities located in the heart of Tokyo, Japan.  Imparting education through 29 departments in 9 faculties and 25 majors in 10 graduate schools, Sophia hosts more than 13,000 students from around the world.

Conceived with the spirit of “For Others, With Others,” Sophia University truly values internationality and neighborliness, and believes in education and research that go beyond national, linguistic, and academic boundaries. Sophia emphasizes on the need for multidisciplinary and fusion research to find solutions for the most pressing global issues like climate change, poverty, conflict, and violence. Over the course of the last century, Sophia has made dedicated efforts to hone future-ready graduates who can contribute their talents and learnings for the benefit of others, and pave the way for a sustainable future while “Bringing the World Together.”

Website: https://www.sophia.ac.jp/eng/

 

About Associate Professor Taku Togawa from Sophia University, Japan

Dr. Taku Togawa received a Ph.D. in Marketing from Waseda University in 2018. He joined the Department of Management at Sophia University as an Associate Professor in April 2020. He mainly conducts experimental studies in consumer behavior, focusing on how and when sensory inputs from marketing tools influence consumers' perceptions, evaluations, and consumption behavior. His works have been featured in top-tier journals, such as the Journal of Consumer Psychology, Journal of Retailing, Journal of Business Research, Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, Motivation Science, and Food Quality and Preference. He also serves on the editorial boards of the Journal of Marketing & Distribution, JSMD Review, and Japan Marketing Journal.

 

Funding information

This study was supported by the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research, grant number: 19K01943).

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JOURNAL

Journal of Business Research

DOI

10.1016/j.jbusres.2023.113801 

METHOD OF RESEARCH

Experimental study

SUBJECT OF RESEARCH

People

ARTICLE TITLE

The temperature of newness: How vision–temperature correspondence in advertising influences newness perception and product evaluation

ARTICLE PUBLICATION DATE

30-Apr-2023

Solar cells charging forward

Realizing the potential of creating silicon-based photovoltaics at room temperature

Peer-Reviewed Publication

KYOTO UNIVERSITY

 

IMAGE: MANUFACTURING PROCESS OF PEDOT:PSS SOLAR CELL view more 

CREDIT: KYOTOU/KATSUAKI TANABE

Kyoto, Japan -- Ongoing challenges in solar cell production may partly explain why non-renewable energy resources -- such as coal, oil, and natural gas -- have overshadowed current optoelectronic devices. 

Now, researchers at Kyoto University may have found an environmentally friendlier solution with enhanced performance, utilizing PEDOT:PSS/silicon heterojunction solar cells. This hybrid type is made of organic-inorganic material, which could potentially ease the production process compared to conventional silicon-only solar cells.

"We wanted to avoid manufacturing solar cells in vacuums and high-temperature processes, which require large and expensive equipment and a great amount of time," explains lead author Katsuaki Tanabe. 

Anticipating a challenge, the team set out to fabricate solar cells from silicon wafers under only ambient temperature and pressure conditions. However, their efforts proved to yield worthy results after optimizing process conditions for the wafers.

These polished wafers were first diced into 8-mm square pieces and coated with PEDOT:PSS aqueous solution and silver electrodes, in a variety of sequences.

"Our approach enabled us to achieve improved production speed at lower cost and with a power generation efficiency above 10%," remarks the author.

Tanabe's team posits that this new, more efficient production process may lead to large-scale diffusion of photovoltaic power generation. This system could see wider utility in various settings, such as in education or in developing economies.

"Next, we will focus on optimizing impurities and additive concentrations in our production, as well as other structural innovations," concludes Tanabe.

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The paper "An all ambient, room-temperature processed solar cell from a bare silicon wafer" appeared on 14 March 2023 in PNAS Nexus, with doi: https://doi.org/10.1093/pnasnexus/pgad067

Contact: Katsuaki Tanabe, Associate Professor/tanabe@cheme.kyoto-u.ac.jp

About Kyoto University

Kyoto University is one of Japan and Asia's premier research institutions, founded in 1897 and responsible for producing numerous Nobel laureates and winners of other prestigious international prizes. A broad curriculum across the arts and sciences at both undergraduate and graduate levels is complemented by numerous research centers, as well as facilities and offices around Japan and the world. For more information, please see: http://www.kyoto-u.ac.jp/en

 

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JOURNAL

PNAS Nexus

DOI

10.1093/pnasnexus/pgad067 

METHOD OF RESEARCH

Experimental study

SUBJECT OF RESEARCH

Not applicable

ARTICLE TITLE

An all ambient, room-temperature processed solar cell from a bare silicon wafer

 

Save Our Seas Foundation celebrates 20 years and announces a record 75 grants for 2023

In its 20th anniversary year, SOSF welcomes grant recipients working on the most pressing issues for sharks and rays. From raising the profile of rays to tackling climate change, its project leaders are leading the conservation charge.

Grant and Award Announcement

SAVE OUR SEAS FOUNDATION

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IMAGE: THIS YEAR, THE DIVERSE BUT OFTEN THREATENED COUSINS OF SHARKS - THE RAYS - WERE A FOCUS FOR MANY FUNDED PROJECTS, AND ENDANGERED SPECIES REMAIN A PRIORITY FOR ACTION. view more 

CREDIT: ARTWORK BY JOSIE THORNE | © SAVE OUR SEAS FOUNDATION

It’s a milestone year for the Save Our Seas Foundation (SOSF). Twenty years has seen considerable changes in the shark and ray conservation sector, and many challenges remain to be tackled. As we’ve learnt more, we’ve realised just how complex our oceans are and just how deep we need to delve into the details if we’re going to ensure a sustainable and equitable future on this planet. But every year, the SOSF is heartened by the growing number of funding applications and the unflagging commitment of researchers and educators around the world to shark and ray conservation. If anything could ensure staying power beyond two decades for an organisation, it’s the energy provided by seeing the growth in the number and diversity of project leaders, project areas and innovative ideas. This year, several key themes have emerged as priorities that merit attention: young researchers, new coastlines, poorly understood species and under-funded regions New projects are diving into understanding and protecting the species-rich and highly threatened group called rays (sharks’ flattened relatives). Other projects are getting a handle on the scale of our human footprint, from the impact of undersea electromagnetic noise on the US coastline to gathering information about fisheries in Tunisia and India, and measuring how warmer and more acidic seas will affect the reproduction and growth of sharks. 

The local knowledge and historical anecdotes of fishing communities on the Kenyan coast are critical to the work of Victor Alati, a Small Grant recipient for 2023. Victor hopes to track how populations of the Critically Endangered halavi guitarfish have changed over time, gleaning information that will compare where they used to be found with their current abundance and distribution. Cyrus Rumisha, another grant recipient, is building capacity for local Kenyan and Tanzanian communities to identify and protect endangered mobulids (the manta and devil rays). Besides visiting markets and the sites where sharks are caught and brought ashore, Cyrus will be hosting training workshops, meetings and traditional dances to best engage and incorporate community participation. 

As our oceans warm and their chemistry changes, scientists are growing increasingly concerned about understanding how this will affect sharks and rays. Their thinking? We need to prepare to adapt conservation plans that are future-fit. Noémie Coulon is testing the impact of a warming and acidifying ocean, focusing on the developing embryos of small-spotted catsharks in the north-eastern Atlantic, from where she is based in Brittany, France. Alice Rogers is exploring how even in some of the most remote reaches of our planet, like Fiordland in the south-western corner of Aotearoa, New Zealand, the impact of climate change will still be felt. She is looking at how broadnose sevengill sharks might respond to changing salinity and temperatures, hoping to give these sharks the best shot at survival.  

The proliferation in applications to research the more frequently ignored ‘flat sharks’ is also an exciting development for 2023. Cynthia Awruch has a mystery to solve in Macquarie Harbour, Tasmania. Here, the endemic (found nowhere else on earth) Maugean skate is disappearing – and she is determined to understand how the impacts of mining, aquaculture and pollution might be affecting its reproduction. Filmmaker Danny Copeland is getting creative for angel sharks, producing a long-form documentary that celebrates the incredible work of researchers and conservationists who are bringing three species of these camouflaged rays back from the brink in the Mediterranean and East Atlantic. 

‘The range of projects supported this year spans such a diversity of important themes,’ says Dr James Lea, the SOSF’s chief executive officer. ‘It is exciting to see what growth and change can happen in 20 years, and the projects funded for 2023 are well placed to build on a solid legacy of conservation innovation.’

The Foundation continues to fund the SOSF D’Arros Research Centre in Seychelles, the SOSF Shark Education Centre in South Africa and the SOSF Shark Research Center in the USA. Its long-standing partners, the Bimini Biological Field Station Foundation, Manta Trust, North Coast Cetacean Society, Shark Spotters and The Acoustic Tracking Array Platform, all received renewed funding. Continuity, long-term monitoring and collaboration remain at the core of these relationships. 

‘Ensuring that a new generation of scientists, conservationists and educators are supported is essential to the longevity of the good work taking place across our oceans,’ says the Founder of the SOSF, His Excellency Abdulmohsen Abdulmalik Al-Sheikh. ‘Funding their work, especially when they are asking important questions about our future, is made more poignant in reflecting on our anniversary year.’

From searching for ‘lost sharks’ to gathering environmental DNA from sawfishes on the Amazon coast, understanding Indonesia’s thresher shark populations and saving the ‘rhino rays’ of Mauritania, Senegal and Guinea-Bissau, the 2023 project leader cohort is one to watch. To learn more and follow project news, visit the Project Leader story section here and follow the SOSF on social media. 

Fostering the next generation of conservation leaders means supporting early career scientists, and young educators and conservation practitioners from a variety of countries around the world.

Working in under-resourced and developing nations, and promoting work on challenging coastlines and often-ignored deeper reaches, has been a primary objective when looking at funding projects for 2023.

CREDIT

Artwork by Josie Thorne | © Save Our Seas Foundation