<div dir="ltr">Greetings Alien Plant Working Group! <div><br></div><div>I am writing about a grant opportunity for tools and solutions for invasive species management -- including alien plants! </div><div><br></div><div>Please see below! I'd be happy to provide more information or answer any questions! Please feel free to forward and share widely. </div><div><br></div><div>Kind regards,</div><div>Cassie Ann Hoffman</div><div><br></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:Calibri"><b><span style="font-size:18pt;font-family:"Helvetica Neue"">Con X Tech Prize: $90,000 for bold conservation ideas</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:Calibri"><b><span style="font-size:18pt;font-family:"Helvetica Neue""> </span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:Calibri"><b><span style="font-family:"Helvetica Neue"">Submission Deadline: </span></b><span style="font-family:"Helvetica Neue"">March 20</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:Calibri"><b><span style="font-family:"Helvetica Neue"">Find out more: </span></b><a href="https://conservationx.com/prize" target="_blank" style="color:rgb(5,99,193)"><span style="font-family:"Helvetica Neue"">https://conservationx.com/prize</span></a><span style="font-family:"Helvetica Neue""></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:"Helvetica Neue""> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:"Helvetica Neue"">Calling anyone ready to take action on their world-changing idea to collaborate, create, and catalyze new tech for conservation – Conservation X Labs is awarding $90,000 across 20 teams with the </span><a href="https://conservationx.com/prize" target="_blank" style="color:rgb(5,99,193)"><span style="font-family:"Helvetica Neue"">Con X Tech Prize</span></a><span style="font-family:"Helvetica Neue"">!</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:"Helvetica Neue""> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:"Helvetica Neue"">CXL is seeking novel and transformative tools to conserve the world’s biodiversity and end human-induced species extinctions. Aimed specifically at projects teams that are considering their first prototype, the Con X Tech Prize grants <b>20 prototyping awards of $3,500 each</b> to take your idea from blueprint to reality.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:"Helvetica Neue""> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:"Helvetica Neue"">Then, the 20 winners of the first stage of the competition will go on to compete in the Second Stage for the <b>Grand Prize of $20,000!</b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:"Helvetica Neue""> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:"Helvetica Neue"">Finalists from past rounds of the Con X Tech Prize included:</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:"Helvetica Neue""> </span></p><ul type="disc" style="margin-top:0in;margin-bottom:0in"><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:Calibri"><a href="https://conservationx.com/project/id/149" target="_blank" style="color:rgb(5,99,193)"><span style="font-family:"Helvetica Neue"">A deep-sea lander</span></a><span style="font-family:"Helvetica Neue""> to capture 3D video in the deep ocean</span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:Calibri"><a href="https://conservationx.com/project/id/30" target="_blank" style="color:rgb(5,99,193)"><span style="font-family:"Helvetica Neue"">An algorithm</span></a><span style="font-family:"Helvetica Neue""> to help the shipping industry halt illegal shark fin trade</span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:Calibri"><a href="https://conservationx.com/project/id/5" target="_blank" style="color:rgb(5,99,193)"><span style="font-family:"Helvetica Neue"">An app</span></a><span style="font-family:"Helvetica Neue""> to help consumers find and shop at sustainable businesses</span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:"Helvetica Neue"">And </span><a href="https://conservationx.com/challenge/cxtech/prize/projects" target="_blank" style="color:rgb(5,99,193)"><span style="font-family:"Helvetica Neue"">many more</span></a><span style="font-family:"Helvetica Neue"">!</span></li></ul><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:"Helvetica Neue""> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:Calibri"><b><span style="font-size:16pt;font-family:"Helvetica Neue""> </span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:Calibri"><b><span style="font-size:16pt;font-family:"Helvetica Neue"">Categories</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:"Helvetica Neue""> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:"Helvetica Neue"">This round of the Con X Tech Prize has two categories: <b>Invasive Species</b>, and <b>Blue Sky</b>. In the Invasive Species category, ideas are sought to prevent, eradicate, or detect invasive or introduced species – including in the fields of transportation, food security, or emerging pathogens. Blue Sky, meanwhile, awards any bold idea that addresses a critical conservation challenge.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:"Helvetica Neue""> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:"Helvetica Neue"">Conservation X Labs believes in radical collaboration, and the strongest solutions and project teams will draw from a range of disciplines (e.g., behavioral sciences, engineering, computer science, molecular science, economics) and consider the impact, sustainability (financial and environmental), and scalability of their solution from the very beginning. The goal is to move from merely monitoring changing landscapes and species populations, to developing tangible solutions and creating real-life impact. Hardware and software submissions are welcomed, as well as any impactful solution idea that is enabled by technology and helps achieve a conservation outcome.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:"Helvetica Neue""> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:"Helvetica Neue"">The potential benefits of your proof-of-concept can’t be understated; it can help your team validate a project idea, launch a successful crowdfunding campaign, net a strategic partnership, or even raise a successful seed investment.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:"Helvetica Neue""> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:"Helvetica Neue"">The only question is: <b>what will you build?</b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:"Helvetica Neue""> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:"Helvetica Neue"">Deadline to submit your idea has been extended to <b>March 20, 2019.</b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:"Helvetica Neue""> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:"Helvetica Neue""> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:Calibri"><b><span style="font-size:16pt;font-family:"Helvetica Neue"">Timeline</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:Calibri"><b><span style="font-family:"Helvetica Neue""> </span></b></p><ul type="disc" style="margin-top:0in;margin-bottom:0in"><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:Calibri"><b><span style="font-family:"Helvetica Neue"">Wednesday, January 23, 2019</span></b><span style="font-family:"Helvetica Neue""><br>Con X Tech Prize open for submissions.</span></li></ul><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:"Helvetica Neue""> </span></p><ul type="disc" style="margin-top:0in;margin-bottom:0in"><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:Calibri"><b><span style="font-family:"Helvetica Neue"">Wednesday, March 20, 2019</span></b><span style="font-family:"Helvetica Neue""><br>Submission period closes.</span></li></ul><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:"Helvetica Neue""> </span></p><ul type="disc" style="margin-top:0in;margin-bottom:0in"><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:Calibri"><b><span style="font-family:"Helvetica Neue"">March 2019</span></b><span style="font-family:"Helvetica Neue""><br>Peer Feedback Period.</span></li></ul><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:"Helvetica Neue""> </span></p><ul type="disc" style="margin-top:0in;margin-bottom:0in"><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:Calibri"><b><span style="font-family:"Helvetica Neue"">Late May 2019</span></b><span style="font-family:"Helvetica Neue""><br>Finalists selected and announced.</span></li></ul><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:"Helvetica Neue""> </span></p><ul type="disc" style="margin-top:0in;margin-bottom:0in"><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:Calibri"><b><span style="font-family:"Helvetica Neue"">Summer 2019</span></b><span style="font-family:"Helvetica Neue""> Prototyping Second Stage.</span></li></ul><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:"Helvetica Neue""> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:Calibri"><b><span style="font-size:16pt;font-family:"Helvetica Neue""> </span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:Calibri"><b><span style="font-size:16pt;font-family:"Helvetica Neue"">How to submit</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:"Helvetica Neue""> </span></p><p class="gmail-m_-2015575762386123636gmail-MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in;font-size:12pt;font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:"Helvetica Neue"">1.<span style="font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:7pt;line-height:normal;font-family:"Times New Roman"">    </span></span><span style="font-family:"Helvetica Neue"">Create an account on the </span><a href="https://conservationx.com/" target="_blank" style="color:rgb(5,99,193)"><span style="font-family:"Helvetica Neue"">Digital Makerspace</span></a><span style="font-family:"Helvetica Neue""> – the online community platform for conservation innovation projects.</span></p><p class="gmail-m_-2015575762386123636gmail-MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in;font-size:12pt;font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:"Helvetica Neue"">2.<span style="font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:7pt;line-height:normal;font-family:"Times New Roman"">    </span></span><a href="https://conservationx.com/proposeproject" target="_blank" style="color:rgb(5,99,193)"><span style="font-family:"Helvetica Neue"">Create a project</span></a><span style="font-family:"Helvetica Neue""> and fill in the prompts to add detail and structure to your idea.</span></p><p class="gmail-m_-2015575762386123636gmail-MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in;font-size:12pt;font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:"Helvetica Neue"">3.<span style="font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:7pt;line-height:normal;font-family:"Times New Roman"">    </span></span><span style="font-family:"Helvetica Neue"">Once submitted, your project will be vetted to be hosted on the Digital Makerspace community. When approved, submit it to the Con X Tech Prize by clicking the </span><a href="https://conservationx.com/challenge/cxtech/prize2/guidelines" target="_blank" style="color:rgb(5,99,193)"><span style="font-family:"Helvetica Neue"">Submit Project button</span></a><span style="font-family:"Helvetica Neue""> at the top of the page.</span></p><p class="gmail-m_-2015575762386123636gmail-MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in;font-size:12pt;font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:"Helvetica Neue"">4.<span style="font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:7pt;line-height:normal;font-family:"Times New Roman"">    </span></span><span style="font-family:"Helvetica Neue"">Done! You’re in the running for one of twenty $3,500 prototyping grants – and one $20,000 Grand Prize.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:"Helvetica Neue""> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:"Helvetica Neue""> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:Calibri"><b><span style="font-size:16pt;font-family:"Helvetica Neue"">Questions?</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:"Helvetica Neue""> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:"Helvetica Neue"">Email the Community Manager and prize administrator, Tom Quigley, at </span><a href="mailto:tom@conservationxlabs.org" target="_blank" style="color:rgb(5,99,193)"><span style="font-family:"Helvetica Neue"">tom@conservationxlabs.org</span></a></p></div><div><br></div>-- <br><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_signature" data-smartmail="gmail_signature">Such is Life.</div></div>