University of Washington - 2025
Environmental Innovation Challenge
The Leo Cup Innovation Award is appointed to a recipient(s) who is/are intent on generating new developments in eradicating ocean plastics and restoring ocean health.
Subvision Robotics from Simon Fraser University in British Columbia won the $2,500 Leo Maddox Innovation in Oceanography Prize — presented with generous support from the Leo Maddox Family Legacy. The team of mechatronic systems engineering students is working on an autonomous subsea rover that uses UV light to enable continuous, on-vessel cleaning for ship hulls. Their innovation eliminates the need for toxic chemicals and prevents the release of invasive species, thereby protecting marine ecosystems. This is the second year of this prize, which recognizes students for creating innovative solutions to address issues of ocean health, with a preference for addressing marine pollution, including ocean plastics or other pollutants.