π Urchin shells to save Tasmania's kelp forests
Australian students are repurposing discarded sea urchin shells into reef structures to help damaged kelp forests recover. This innovative idea comes from design students addressing the decline of kelp beds off Tasmania's coast. Two projects, ReURCHIN and Upsurge, utilized this waste material in different restoration designs. The structures aim to provide temporary support for young kelp as the ecosystem regrows. ReURCHIN won a 2025 prize, and Upsurge later received recognition at the 2026 Biodesign Challenge Summit. π