In General XR News
May 4, 2023 – AWE, a provider of worldwide events focused exclusively on the business of augmented, virtual and mixed reality (AR, VR & MR – collectively XR), has this week announced the 11 project teams that advanced to the final round of the company’s XR Prize Challenge: Fight Climate Change (aka the “XR Prize), which has a total prize fund of USD $100,000.
The XR Prize, which was announced in October last year, is a global competition organized by AWE co-founder Ori Inbar and the AWE team as a means towards harnessing AR and VR solutions to help fight climate change. The USD $100,000 cash prize will be awarded to the best submission demonstrating a creative, functional, and impactful XR-based solution to help humanity in the fight against climate change.
A total of 90 out of 150 teams submitted MVP demos to be judged for a chance to advance to the finals. Expert independent judges selected finalists from across the following four categories:
- Replacing Wasteful Material Practices
- Visualizing The Causes & Impacts Of Climate Change
- Educating About Solutions To Climate Change
- Optimizing Design & Execution Of Climate Solutions
The finalists include representation from all around the world, as well as from a range of educational institutions, companies and individuals. Furthermore, the company highlighted that the majority (6 of 11) of finalist project teams are led/represented by women – a point of pride for AWE leadership who have long advocated to provide equal representation in the XR industry.
“We are very proud of the 11 teams who have gained the respect of our expert judges – their combined impact on climate change is worthy of attention and demonstrates that XR is indeed an important – if not vital – tool in this fight for the future of planet Earth,” said Ori Inbar, co-founder of AWE.
The finalist teams represent 3 continents & 4 countries; seven teams are from the United States, two are from the UK, one is from Brazil and one is from Denmark.
The XR Prize finalists will demonstrate their solutions at a special event at AWE USA, on Tuesday May 30, 2023, with the winner announced on June 1, 2023 during the AWE USA event’s Auggie Awards ceremony.
“It’s humbling to work with so many diverse teams haling from all around the globe,” commented Dace Campbell, XR Prize Manager, “and truly inspiring to see and experience so many creative proposals to harness XR in our fight against climate change.”
The XR Prize finalists include:
Between Two Worlds by virtualosus
Between Two Worlds is an augmented reality app that invites viewers to experience wildlife art as they’ve never seen before. Scanning endangered animals brings them to life and reveals the threats to their habitats.
Figmin XR by Overlay
Figmin XR is a versatile AR app that lets you create, collect, and play with immersive digital objects, reducing wasteful material practices and promoting sustainability.
inCitu by inCitu
inCitu brings future cities to life through Augmented Reality to foster collaboration around the process of urban change.
Lowjacking by Climate Emergency Network, University of the Arts London
Lowjacking – Correcting Creative Control digitally exposes the environmental-impacts of the worlds most polluting brand advertisements, redesigning them to champion environmentally friendly alternatives.
Mangrove City by University of Miami
Mangrove City is a VR experience designed for middle school students to explore the crucial role of mangrove forests in protecting coastal communities and mitigating climate change.
OcellusXR by Urban Systems Lab
Ocellus XR is a mixed reality application designed to visualize heat and flood related climate risks in New York City.
Origen Xr by Presencias
Origen Xr is an immersive story-world where stories meet meaningful interactions to connect with the common origin that unites all living beings on Earth, nature. VR, AR and more.
Qikiqtaruk – Experiencing the Arctic under threat by Qikiqtaruk VR Team, produced in collaboration with IVAR Studios
This VR experience allows you to travel to Qikiqtaruk, at the forefront of climate change, with an Arctic scientist and an Inuvialuit park ranger as your guides, where users can experience the tundra thaw away beneath their feet.
The Immersion Project by The Immersion Project Team
The Immersion Project is a scientific research project, an AR/art exhibition, and a solution to restore deep-sea corals and support their role in mitigating climate change.
The Sea is Coming! by Virtual Planet
The Sea is Coming! is an interactive VR experience that educates users on the effects of climate change as they make tough decisions, save the coast, and prepare for climate change.
Waste Warrior by ARRR
Waste Warrior is a location-based trash-sorting game we are piloting in Singapore to educate the public about the local recycling program.
For more information on AWE and its XR Prize Challenge: Fight Climate Change, please visit the company’s website.
Image credit: AWE
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About the author
Sam is the Founder and Managing Editor of Auganix. With a background in research and report writing, he has been covering XR industry news for the past seven years.