[MAIPC] The 'Ōhi'a Challenge application deadline is less than 2 weeks away

[C Hoffman]

Please share this competition announcement widely! You are an invaluable
force multiplier to help make this a successful competition!

The Ōhiʻa Challenge <http://savetheohia.org/>: Solutions to Detect Rapid
‘Ōhiʻa Death before it kills & spreads

We are less than 2 weeks from the application deadline for the ‘Ōhi’a
Challenge!!

Rapid ‘Ōhi’a Death (ROD) is wiping out ‘ōhi’a trees on the Big Island of
Hawai‘i and now Kaua’i. Two newly discovered invasive fungi, Ceratocystis
huliohia and Ceratocystis lukuohia, are responsible for ROD. Since 2014
when first identified, the fungi have infected thousands of acres of forest
and, if unstopped, could irreversibly change Hawai‘i’s ecosystems and
culture by eliminating the beloved ʻōhi‘a tree. These newly discovered
invasive fungi are just two examples of the broader problem of fungal
pathogens affecting plants and animals alike. Invasive fungal pathogens are
responsible for a number of diseases killing native animal species such as
frogs (i.e. chytrid) and bats (i.e. white nose syndrome) in addition to a
number of plant species that are important food sources (i.e. wilt, rot,
and blight).

Unfortunately, we do not yet possess the means to detect the invasive fungi
before it’s too late for the ʻōhi‘a – by the time we can detect the
infection, the tree is already dead. The ‘Ōhiʻa Challenge
<https://www.savetheohia.org/> seeks solutions and tools to identify
infected trees early enough to minimize the spread, with the ultimate goal
of saving this iconic tree.

As part of our effort to galvanize technology development to address this
critical problem in Hawai’i, we want to reach diverse innovators from all
backgrounds and sectors that have the potential to create new solutions to
this threat.

The needs are known: identify trees that have been infected with the
Ceratocystis
huliohia and Ceratocystis lukuohia fungi before they die, and prevent the
spread of the fungi and the infection of new trees. While the end goal is
to develop a treatment for infected trees and ultimately eliminate the
pathogen in Hawai‘i’s forests, this first step of identifying infection is
crucial and therefore the focus of The ‘Ōhiʻa Challenge
<http://savetheohia.org/>.

Our goal in this Challenge is to use the best of human ingenuity to
identify technological solutions that can save part of Hawaiʻi’s beauty.
This is why we look to engage innovative thinkers within other advanced
technology fields through this Challenge. Although The ‘Ōhiʻa Challenge is
focused specifically in Hawaii on one tree species, the potential solution
we uncover through the Challenge could be applied to a number of other
invasive fungi-related diseases.

Applicants have the potential to win up to $70,000 in the ‘Ōhiʻa Challenge!
The application period is open until April 8, 2019. Visit
https://www.savetheohia.org/ for more information and contact
ohia at conservationxlabs.org with your questions.




-- 
___________________

Cassie Ann Hoffman
Director of Field Operations & Digital Makerspace Platform Manager
Conservation X Labs
http://conservationxlabs.com/

Join our Digital Makerspace!
https://conservationx.com/
A collaborative innovation platform for tech-enabled conservation solutions
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.maipc.org/pipermail/maipc-maipc.org/attachments/20190326/77c67cd1/attachment.html>