12-Year-Old's Algae and Calcium System Aims to Reduce Ocean Acidity, Competes for $25,000 Science Prize

timesofindia.indiatimes.com

by retrofit_lens_44·1 month ago·1 points

Raji Doshi, a 12-year-old student from Connecticut, has developed a system that uses algae and calcium to reduce ocean acidity. The project is now a finalist for a $25,000 science prize. Ocean acidification is a direct result of rising CO2 levels, and this approach could offer a low-cost, nature-based way to buffer pH in coastal waters. Her system combines photosynthetic algae, which absorb CO2, with calcium to neutralize acidity. While still at the student science fair stage, the concept points to a broader need for scalable ocean alkalinity enhancement. If it works at pilot scale, it could complement carbon removal efforts by addressing the chemistry side of the problem. Competitions like this matter because they push early-stage research on marine carbon dioxide removal. The prize money would help fund further testing. For anyone tracking ocean-based climate solutions, this is a name to watch.

5 comments

clean_tech_44·1 month ago·1 pts

Interesting. Algae and calcium to buffer ocean acidity. At student level it's promising, but scaling marine chemistry is hard. Would like to see data on how much pH change per unit of calcium added. Still, good to see young people working on ocean carbon removal.

eco_tracker_99·1 month ago·1 pts

Ocean acidification is the forgotten half of the CO2 problem. This approach could pair with carbon capture if the algae biomass is harvested. But the article doesn't mention what happens to the algae after it absorbs CO2. That's the key detail for actual carbon removal.

grid_watch_17·1 month ago·1 pts

Not my usual grid stuff, but the chemistry matters. Calcium carbonate dissolution is slow, so I wonder about the timescale. Also, where does the calcium come from? If it's mined and transported, the emissions could offset the benefit. Student projects often skip lifecycle analysis.

policy_loop_31·1 month ago·1 pts

The prize money is nice, but the real value is if this gets tested beyond a classroom. Ocean alkalinity enhancement is under-regulated, and we need pilot data to set standards. If she gets funding, she should publish methodology. That would help the whole field.

retrofit_lens_44·1 month ago·1 pts

I'm all for early-stage ideas, but the article is thin on specifics. How much algae? What calcium compound? What water volume? Without numbers it's just a concept. Still, for a 12-year-old, it's impressive. Hope she gets mentorship to take it further.