Beautiful Nation Project ☸

The mission of Plastic Ocean Project, Inc. 501(c)3 is to educate through field research, implement progressive outreach initiatives, and incubate solutions to address the global plastic pollution problem. Working with and for the next generation to create a more sustainable future.

Our long term goals are to actively and collectively incubate 5 solutions toward the prevention and removal of marine plastics on and off-shore. We intend to bring together a community of world leaders focused on innovation, collaboration, education and outreach, while spearheading and mobilizing focused research and innovation projects to meet the challenge of removing man-made debris from our oceans in support of our next generation, while also creating new sustainable businesses.

One More Generation (OMG) was founded in 2009 by 8 year old Carter Ries and 7 year old Olivia Ries. Carter (now 13) and his Sister Olivia (now 12) are both extremely passionate about animals and conservation. Following the adoption of Cheetahs in South Africa, Carter and Olivia began to question why humans would need to adopt wild animals like the cheetah. Carter and Olivia soon learned of the pressing issues surrounding endangered species, and knew they had to act.

Beautiful Nation Project is proud to have been chosen as a resident company hosted at University of South Florida's Student Innovation Incubator at USF Connect!

The student entrepreneurs featured here were selected from a pool of more than 40 applicants from across campus to be in the first round of businesses served by the USF Student Innovation Incubator (SII). These students are from the Colleges of Engineering, Business and Arts and Sciences, Morsani College of Medicine and Patel College of Global Sustainability.

Pangaea Explorations is host to the Makulu crew sailing expeditions aboard s/v Sea Dragon.

Pangaea Explorations runs an around-the-world marine research sailing ship, 72' Sloop Sea Dragon to raise awareness as to the depth, complexity and sheer inertia of the threats to our oceans. 

Track the Journey Aboard Seadragon Here

The World Water Monitoring Challenge supports the Beautiful Nation Project and is excited to share the project with its schools. The Beautiful Nation Project's Water Quality Channel is dedicated to raising awareness about water quality and houses a free app for students to upload and share their local water quality testing results.

Adventurers and Scientists for Conservation (ASC) is proud to partner with the Beautiful Nation Project to raise awareness about the effects of marine debris on marine ecosystems worldwide. ASC has partnered with the Marine Environmental Research Institute (MERI) to recruit adventure volunteers around the globe to take sea water samples for study to understand the source, composition and distribution of microplastics.  With the help of visiting expert Bonnie Montelone, the Makulu crew will help contribute to these data collection and conservation efforts in the Marine Debris Channel. 

Reach the World (RTW) specializes in global mentor matching and geographic literacy. RTW's geography teaching and assessment game GeoGames is a great tool for elementary and middle school educators in the Beautiful Nation network.

Agastya is a proud partner of the Beautiful Nation Project. The organization designs and implements mobile science learning environments where students and teachers can create, tinker, seek solutions - and find them! The Makulu crew is excited to present the Agastya model in each port stop along the voyage route. Visit the Agastya Channel to learn more.

The History Channel's History Classroom (THC) is the official media partner of the Voyage of Makulu. THC will support school programming in New York City and content featured in the History Classroom Channel in the network. The partnership celebrates THC's commitment to educational programming on historical events and landmarks, including our UNESCO World Heritage Sites. 

Global Marine Networks is the official satellite communications consultant for the Voyage of Makulu. The ship's sat comm data plan and assets are well-managed thanks to GMN's expert advice and support.