Mirpuri Foundation Ocean Award announced - recognising excellence in the scientific community

Mirpuri Foundation Racing Team © Marc Bow

The Mirpuri Foundation has launched a prestigious new international sustainability award for 2021. The Mirpuri Foundation Ocean Award is created to recognise excellence in the scientific community and reward the most innovative projects designed to positively impact the health of our oceans.

The winner will be announced on World Environment Day 2021 (June 5th) during the awards ceremony at the close of the annual Mirpuri Foundation Sailing Trophy - one of the premier regattas of the international sailing calendar - which takes place at the Clube Naval de Cascais in Portugal to raise awareness and important funds for marine conservation projects around the world.

The winner will receive 'The Mirpuri Foundation Ocean Award of the Year 2021' trophy and a prize of €5,000 in recognition of their excellent contribution for a better world, plus the opportunity to receive global recognition and gain exposure for the exemplary accomplishments of their work to reduce environmental impact on the world's seas. A shortlist of finalists will also be exhibited at the event, to celebrate the global effort of the scientific community to combat the climate crisis and contribute to long term ocean health.

The Sailing Trophy will take place during the Cascais stopover of The Ocean Race Europe, making the awards ceremony an exemplary platform to share ideas about ocean health and conservation. The eyes of the offshore sailing world will be on the event, with the spectacular backdrop of VO65 and IMOCA 60s among the many boats in Cascais Marina.

The Award is the latest sustainability initiative launched by the Mirpuri Foundation. Founded by entrepreneur Paulo Mirpuri with the aim of contributing to a better world for future generations, the Mirpuri Foundation acts in six distinct areas: Marine Conservation, Wildlife Conservation, the Performing Arts, Social Responsibility, Medical Research and Aerospace Research. The foundation's commitment to sustainability is reflected in all its activities.

Paulo Mirpuri, Founder of the Mirpuri Foundation said: "We are pleased to officially launch The Mirpuri Foundation Ocean Award. Ocean conservation is at the heart of the Mirpuri Foundation and it is important that we hold ourselves and others to account in how we inspire real change. In addition to a spectacular regatta, The Mirpuri Foundation Sailing Trophy is created to highlight the need to protect our oceans and we are excited to have this platform to celebrate the initiatives that have a real benefit on the health of our oceans, and we look forward to exhibiting these inspiring ideas and celebrating the innovative minds in our community. With the eyes of the international sailing community upon us, we can inspire others to join us in making a meaningful difference.

Entries for The Mirpuri Foundation Ocean Award are open until May 15. Entrants must submit details of their initiative or project in the form of an A2 poster, to . Entries will be judged by an esteemed panel of the Mirpuri Foundation sustainability experts and advisors.

Find more information here...