Algae Foundation

THE ALGAE FOUNDATION'S MISSION IS TO PROMOTE THE POWER OF ALGAE TO TRANSFORM HUMAN SOCIETY AND THE ENVIRONMENT UPON WHICH IT DEPENDS AND TO FACILITATE A FUTURE IN WHICH ALGAE ARE A FUNDAMENTAL SOURCE OF ENERGY, NUTRITION, PRODUCTS AND ECOLOGICAL SERVICES FOR SUSTAINABLE SOCIETIES GLOBALLY. WE SEE A FUTURE THAT EMBRACES ALGAE AS AN ESSENTIAL SOLUTION FOR SUSTAINABLE AND HEALTHY PLANET. TO ACCOMPLISH ITS MISSION, THE ALGAE FOUNDATION ENGAGES IN AND FUNDS EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH, RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT, AND OTHER ACTIVITIES;FINDS AND SUPPORTS THE DEVELOPMENT OF FUTURE LEADERS OF THE ALGAE INDUSTRY THROUGH SCHOLARSHIPS, GRANTS AND OTHER FINANCIAL AND ORGANIZATIONAL SUPPORT; AND FACILITATES COMMUNICATION AMONG PRIVATE, ACADEMIC AND PUBLIC SECTOR LEADERS, AND THE PUBLIC GENERALLY, TO INCREASE BROADER LITERACY AND AWARENESS OF THE BENEFITS OF ALGAE BIOMASS CULTIVATION AND COMMERCIALIZATION.

PROVIDED GRANTS TO ELIGIBLE STUDENTS TO ATTEND THE VIRTUAL ALGAE BIOMASS SUMMIT. STUDENTS WERE ABLE TO ATTEND ALL SESSIONS OF INTEREST. THE STUDENTS ALSO ATTENDED PRIVATE SESSIONS WITH SCIENTISTS, PROFESSORS, AND PRIVATE SECTOR ALGAL INDUSTRY LEADERS.

ALGAE TECHNOLOGY EDUCATIONAL CONSORTIUM: THE FIRST INITIATIVE OF THE ALGAE FOUNDATION IN STEM WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT IS THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE ALGAE TECHNOLOGY EDUCATIONAL CONSORTIUM (ATEC) TO DEVELOP ALGAL BASED EDUCATION AND TRAINING PLATFORMS TO DEVELOP THE NEXT GENERATION OF ALGAL PROFESSIONALS AND AN ALGAL LITERATE NATION. THE EFFORTS INCLUDE: 1. TWO COMMUNITY COLLEGE DEGREES IN 1. ALGAE BIOLOGY & CULTIVATION AND 2. ALGAE BIOTECHNOLOGY. 2.ESTABLISHMENT OF THE ALGAE CULTIVATION EXTENSION SHORTCOURSES (ACES) PART 1 (SEAWEED) AND PART 2 (MICROALGAE) 3. ALGAE ACADEMY GRADES K-12 ALGAL-BASED STEM EDUCATION INITIATIVE 4. ONLINE LEARNING: INTRODUCTION OF ALGAE MASSIVE OPEN ONLINE COURSE(ALGAL-MOOC)5. SUMMER ALGAE SCIENCE INSTITUTE (SASI): CONTINUED SCIENCE EDUCATION FOR TEACHERS NATIONWIDE. THE ESTABLISHMENT OF ATEC WAS LAUNCHED AS THE RESULT OF A FOUR YEAR GRANT FROM THE US DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY AND THE NATIONAL RENEWABLE ENERGY LABORATORY. THE GRANT WAS RENEWED FOR AN ADDITIONAL THREE YEARS (PENDING CONGRESSIONAL FUNDING). ALGAL PRODUCTION WILL SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCE GREENHOUSE GASES, PROVIDE A SUSTAINABLE SOURCE OF BIOMASS FOR BIO-BASED PRODUCTS, FEED, FUEL AND FOODS. THIS REQUIRES NEW LARGE SCALE OPERATIONS CREATING HIGH QUALITY JOBS AND ATEC'S PURPOSE IS TO DEVELOP AN EDUCATED WORKFORCE TO FILL THOSE JOBS. THROUGH ALGAL EDUCATION STUDENTS LEARN PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS OFF ARMING AND BIOTECHNOLOGY TO PRODUCE A SUSTAINABLE RESOURCE WHILE DEVELOPING THE SKILLS FOR THE NEXTGENERATION OF ALGAL-BASED JOBS. THE TWO DEGREE PROGRAMS WERE SUPPORTED THROUGH THE DEVELOPMENT OF SIX IN PERSON AND ONLINE COURSES SUPPORTED BY INTENSIVE, HANDS ON, PLACE BOUND, LABORATORY EXERCISES. ATEC THROUGH ITS MANY SUBCOMMITTEES ARE DEVELOPING THE ONLINE CLASSES, LABORATORY EXERCISES, LABORATORY AND LECTURE TEXT MATERIALS. ATEC RECRUITED 30 NATIONAL LEADERSIN ALGAL EDUCATION, CULTIVATION, BIOTECHNOLOGY, COMMERCIALIZATION, AND NEW PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT WHO COLLECTIVELY HAVE MORE THAN 200 YEARS OF ALGALBASED EXPERIENCE. THE ATEC TEAM MEMBERS INCLUDE PROFESSIONALS FROM THE FOLLOWING ORGANIZATIONS: ALGAE FOUNDATION, ALGAE BIOMASS ORGANIZATION, CAL-CAB, UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO, NATIONAL RENEWABLE ENERGYLAB, UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS, AUSTIN, ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY, UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN MAINE, SANTA FE COMMUNITY COLLEGE, AUSTIN COMMUNITY COLLEGE, RUTGERS UNIVERSITY EXTENSION, SOLANO COMMUNITY COLLEGE, HARMON CONSULTING, GLOBAL ALGAE, QUALITAS HEALTH, DSM, CYANOTECH, LONESTAR COLLEGE, UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS, RIO GRANDE VALLEY, SOUTHERN TEXAS COLLEGE, SHORELINE COMMUNITYCOLLEGE, AND LYNN-BENTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE. OUR ATEC TEAM MEMBERS ARE DEDICATED, TO ALL MATTERS DEALING WITH ALGAL EDUCATION, AND HAVE DEDICATED THEMSELVES TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF COMMUNITY COLLEGE EDUCATION AND ALGALBASED AQUACULTURE EXTENSION LEARNING MODULES. THE TWO LEAD ORGANIZATIONS FOR THE ALGAL FARMING AND BIOTECHNOLOGY DEGREES ARE SANTA FE COMMUNITY COLLEGE (NM) AND AUSTIN COMMUNITY COLLEGE (TX), RESPECTIVELY. THE DEGREEPROGRAMS WERE INITIATED FOR THE FARMING DEGREE IN SEPTEMBER, 2016 AND THE FIRST GRADUATES COMPLETED THEIR DEGREES IN MAY 2018. EACH GRADUATE HAS EITHER RECEIVED A SCHOLARSHIP TO ATTEND UNIVERSITY OF NEW MEXICO OR NEW MEXICO STATE UNIVERSITY OR HAVE LANDED A GREAT, HIGH PAYING JOB. THE BIOTECHNOLOGY CURRICULUM BEGAN TO BE OFFERED AT AUSTIN COMMUNITY COLLEGE IN SEPTEMBER 2017 AS A SERIES OF TWO WEEK LECTURE/LABORATORY MODULES IN FOURINTRODUCTORY AND ADVANCED BIOTECHNOLOGY COURSES. ADDITIONALLY, ALGAE HAVE BEEN INCLUDED AS A TARGET ORGANISM IN THE AUSTIN CC INTRO TO BIOTECHNOLOGY COURSE. ATEC HAS RECRUITED NATIONAL COMMERCIAL LEADERS FROM ALGAL FARMING AND BIOTECHNOLOGY COMPANIES TO SERVE ON THE ATEC INDUSTRIAL ADVISORY BOARD. THE ADVISORY BOARD IS ASSISTING WITH THE ESTABLISHMENT OF WORK AND SKILL STANDARDS TO ALIGN THE PROGRAM TO EFFICIENTLY SERVE AS A BIOECONOMY WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM. THIS YEAR ATEC WAS ABLE TO RECRUIT ONE OF THE LARGEST ALGAE COMPANY IN THE USA TO THE INDUSTRIAL ADVISORY BOARD. CORBION OF CALIFORNIA HAVE JOINED THE IAB.

COMPLETED INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR CONTRACTS AND ENTERED INTO AGREEMENTS WITH UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO, AUSTIN COMMUNITY COLLEGE, NEW MEXICO FILM RESOURCES, INC, AND UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS, AUSTIN. INTRODUCTION TO ALGAE MASSIVE OPEN ONLINE COURSE (ALGAL MOOC) WAS PUBLISHED ON FEBRUARY 15, 2018 AND NEARLY 30,000 PARTICIPANTS TO DATE HAVE TAKEN THE COURSE. PUBLISHED THE ONLINE COURSE ALGAE CULTIVATION EXTENSION SHORT-COURSES PART I: SEAWEEDS AND PART II MICROALGAE. OVER 2000 PARTICIPANTS FROM 100 COUNTRIES HAVE TAKEN THE ACES SHORT COURSES. THE ALGAE ACADEMY IS AN INITIATIVE OF THE ALGAE FOUNDATION AND PROVIDES ALGAE BASED STEM CURRICULUM KITS TO ELEMENTARY, MIDDLE, AND HIGH SCHOOL CLASSES. THE PURPOSE OF THE INITIATIVE IS TO EDUCATE AND EXCITE STUDENTS ON THE POWER OF ALGAE AS A SUSTAINABLE SOLUTION FOR SEVERAL OF THE DILEMMAS FACING OUR GLOBAL COMMUNITY. THE CURRICULUM MEETS STEM EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS AND NEXT GEN SCIENCE STANDARDS. OUR SUCCESSES IN 2019 INCLUDE: DISTRIBUTED ~ 300 ALGAL STEM K-12 KITS SERVING NEARLY 36,000 STUDENTS IN GRADES K-12 IN 46 STATES, 1 US TERRITORY AND TWO COUNTRIES. REFINED ALGAE CURRICULUM FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL EDUCATION. CURRICULUM MEETS STEM REQUIREMENTS AND THE HUMAN IMPACT REQUIREMENT OF THE NEXT GEN SCIENCE STANDARDS. DEVELOPED EDUCATOR SUPPORT TOOLS TO ACCOMPANY THE CURRICULUM. OUR GOALS FOR 2020 INCLUDE:DISTRIBUTE 350 KITS TO SCHOOLS NATIONWIDE (ALL 50 STATES) THROUGH BOTH INCLASS AND ONLINE RESOURCES TO ACCOMMODATE NEW DISTANCE LEARNING REQUIREMENTS ESTABLISHED DUE TO COVID-19.DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT A FUNDRAISING PLAN TO INCLUDE DIVERSE REVENUE STREAMS.INCREASE THE CURRICULUM TO BETTER SERVICE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS AND AP CLASSES.ONGOING AND NEAR COMPLETION: RECRUITING > 10 ADDITIONAL COMMUNITY COLLEGES TO ADOPT ATEC DEGREE PROGRAMS. EXPANDING ATEC EACH YEAR, REFLECTING INCREASED INTEREST AND PARTICIPATION. ACQUISITION AND MODIFICATION OF EXISTING EDUCATIONAL CURRICULUMS, ASSETS, LABS, WORKBOOKS, MANUALS, AND LECTURES CONVERSION OF EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS TO THE APPROPRIATE SCALE AND SCOPE OF OUR COMMUNITY COLLEGE STUDENT BY COMMUNITY COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY-BASED EDUCATORS.PUBLISHING THE SECOND ALGAL MASSIVE OPEN ONLINE COURSE ENTITLED:INTRODUCTION TO ALGAE BIOTECHNOLOGY.LEVINE, I. 2019. ALGAL-BASED BIOECONOMY: EDUCATION, TRAINING &COMMERCIAL OPPORTUNITIES. RELIANCE INDUSTRIES LIMITED. JANUARY 21, 2019. MUMBAI, INDIA.LEVINE, I. 2019. ALGAL-BASED EDUCATIONAL INITIATIVES SUPPLYING THE NEXT GENERATION OF SPECIALISTS FOR ALGAL INDUSTRIALIZATION. ALGAL BIOECONOMY, MAINE SEAWEED RENAISSANCE A PRIME EXAMPLE FOR INDIAN SEAWEED COMMERCIALIZATION.INDIA INTERNATIONAL SEAWEED EXPO AND SUMMIT. JANUARY 22-24, 2019. MUMBAI, INDIA.LEVINE, I. AND C. GERK. 2019. ALGAE TECHNOLOGY EDUCATIONALCONSORTIUM. U.S.D.O.E., BETO 2019 PROJECT PEER REVIEW. MARCH 4-7, 2019. DENVER,CO.LEVINE, I. 2019. ALGAL-BASED BIOECONOMY WORKFORCE TRAINING ANDK-12 STEMEDUCATION: ALGAL FARMING RENAISSANCE IN MAINE AN ICELAND.STRANDBUNADUR 2019.MARCH 21-22, 2019. REYKJAVIK, ICELAND.LEVINE, I. 2019. ALGAE FOUNDATION'S ALGAL-BASED STEM K-16EDUCATIONINITIATIVES. USM RESEARCH & SCHOLARSHIP SYMPOSIUM. PORTLAND, ME. MARCH 29, 2019.LEVINE, I. 2019. THE ALGAE INDUSTRY AND WHY ALGAE CURRICULA IN COLLEGE EDUCATION IS IMPORTANT FOR THE FUTURE. SCIENCE SEMINAR MIDLAND COLLEGE.MIDLAND, TX. APRIL 5, 2019.LEVINE, I. 2019. ALGAL-BASED BIOECONOMY WORKFORCE TRAINING AND GRADES K-12STEM EDUCATION: ALGAL CULTIVATION AND BIOTECHNOLOGY IN USA. BLUEAGRICULTURE:BIOTECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCES IN EXPLORING THE OCEAN FOR FOOD AND NUTRACEUTICALS.BARRANQUITAS, PUERTO RICO. APRIL 8-9, 2019.LEVINE, I. 2019. LEARNING SCIENCE FROM K-GRAY. NSTA19: NATIONAL CONFERENCEON SCIENCE EDUCATION. ST. LOUIS, MO. APRIL 11-14, 2019.LEVINE, I. 2019. ALGAE FOUNDATION'S ALGAE TECHNOLOGY EDUCATIONAL CONSORTIUM(ATEC) AND THE ALGAE ACADEMY: 2019 AND BEYOND. 9TH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCEON ALGAE BIOMASS, BIOFUELS, AND BIOPRODUCTS. PLENARY LECTURE. JUNE18, 2019.SEATTLE, WA.LEVINE, I., L. FLETCHER, S. GOMEZ, AND J. NALLEY. 2019.INTERESTED IN LEARNINGABOUT EMERGING ALGAE TECHNOLOGIES? ATEC CAN HELP. HITEC. JULY 24, 2019.ST. LOUIS, MO.LEVINE, I., T. CANNIS, M. CARR, G. MITCHELL, J. NALLEY, AND R. WHITE, 2018. ALGALBASEDEDUCATION K-14 AND BEYOND. ALGAE BIOMASS SUMMIT. PLENARYLECTURE.SEPTEMBER 16-19, 2019. ORLANDO, FL.LEVINE, I., T. CANNIS, J. NALLEY. 2019. ALGAL-BASED BIOECONOMYWORKFORCE TRAINING AND EDUCATION: ALGAE FOUNDATION'S ALGAE TECHNOLOGY EDUCATIONAL CONSORTIUM (ATEC) 2019 AND BEYOND. EUROPEAN ALGAE BIOMASS ASSOCIATION'S ALGAEUROPE.DECEMBER 3, 2019. PARIS, FRANCE.

THE SUMMER ALGAE SCIENCE INSTITUTE (SASI) IS A 2-DAY INTENSIVE HANDS ON WORKSHOP WHERE TEACHERS WORK THROUGH THE ALGAE FOUNDATION'S ALGAE ACADEMY CURRICULUM. THE ALGAE ACADEMY IS A 5-DAY DROP IN READY STEM KIT AVAILABLE TO TEACHERS NATIONWIDE IN BOTH FALL (OCTOBER) AND SPRING (MARCH) SEMESTERS. THIS NGSS ALIGNED CURRICULUM IS AVAILABLE FOR GRADES K-12 AND EASILY ADAPTABLE FOR A NUMBER OF CLASSROOM SETTINGS. SASI IS FACILITATED BY THE ALGAE ACADEMY CURRICULUM DEVELOPERS AS WELL AS ALUMNI EDUCATORS. THE WORKSHOP GIVES TEACHERS THE OPPORTUNITY TO BECOME INTIMATELY ACQUAINTED WITH THE CURRICULUM BEFORE OFFERING IT IN THEIR CLASSROOM THE FOLLOWING ACADEMIC YEAR.