Wendy Schmidt to Fund X-Prize Challenge on Ocean Health

Philanthropist Wendy Schmidt is offering $2-million for an X-Prize competition to develop technologies that will boost scientists’ understanding of ocean chemistry, The Wall Street Journal writes.

The contest will seek proposals for improving knowledge of pollution levels in the ocean, the study of which is now expensive and largely limited to shallow waters. Ms. Schmidt, the wife of Google Chairman Eric Schmidt, has made oceanographic research one of the priorities of the couple’s foundation.

The Playa Vista, Calif.-based X-Prize Foundation manages competitions for various groups and donors looking to address large-scale social and environmental problems.