Algae Technology Educational Consortium

The Spring 2026 ATEC meeting in Hawai’i is underway! Today’s sessions at the Ala Moana Hotel include project status reports, program updates, and discussions on new educational initiatives in algae science from members across the country. Get involved: hubs.ly/Q046NhtV0

Our partners at GreenWave are hosting a webinar to share insights from their recent report, State of the Kelp Industry: A Decade in Review and the Road Ahead. The webinar and Q&A will explore findings from their first industry report. Register now: hubs.ly/Q0452WdR0

Fun Fact Friday!🌿Did you know scientists rebuilt a biological clock using just six proteins? Researchers at UCSD decoded how cyanobacteria keep precise 24-hour rhythms and reconstructed a working clock that turns genes on/off on schedule. Read more: hubs.ly/Q0432x5S0

Congrats to ATEC member & former AlgaePrize advisor Scott Hamilton-Brehm (SIU Carbondale) and team on a $170K grant to scale a breakthrough way to stop harmful algal blooms—without releasing toxins. Read more at SIU News. hubs.ly/Q041GDZb0

Join us for the 3rd Annual Seaweed Workshop, happening March 6–8, 2026 at the UPR Río Piedras Campus. Registration is FREE but space is limited and filled on a first-come, first-served basis! Learn more and register here: hubs.ly/Q040xY9F0

Fun Fact Friday! Did you know microscopic algae called diatoms are natural climate time capsules? Their glass-like shells fossilize in lake sediments, helping scientists reconstruct rainfall, temps, and monsoon patterns from 8,000+ years ago. Read more: hubs.ly/Q0409hhJ0

Fun Fact Friday! Seaweed farms don’t just absorb CO₂—they can lock it away long-term. New research shows sinking seaweed triggers a chemical process that turns C into stable bicarbonate, keeping CO₂ out of the atmosphere for 1000s of years. Learn more: hubs.ly/Q03_9wGx0

Fun Fact Friday! Did you know sun-powered microalgae could help fuel Hawaii’s sustainable future? Researchers are using CRISPR to reprogram freshwater microalgae to capture carbon and produce oils for renewable fuel, medicine & nutrition. Read more: hubs.ly/Q03-fWBB0

The newest edition of The Algae Update is here! As we wrap up an incredible 2025, we’re celebrating AlgaePrize 2, record Algae Academy participation, 48 ATEC partners, the launch of Phycoverse, and more. Read now: hubs.ly/Q03YVw3d0 Subscribe: share.hsforms.com/1Hapo7_sGTfi3S

Fun Fact Friday! Seaweed is a natural hyperaccumulator of REEs — the critical minerals behind smartphones, medical gear, & more. NREL scientists are studying Alaskan seaweeds that soak up these metals and using analyses to discover the their efficiency. hubs.ly/Q03VsfR60

"Sequoias of the Sea" will be screening at Asilomar State Beach on Nov. 22! Our Board Chair will be representing the Algae Foundation at the screening. Learn about the devastating loss of N. California's kelp forests and the fight to restore them: hubs.ly/Q03V8tph0.

Fun Fact Friday! 🌿252 million years ago, during the “Great Dying,” most marine life vanished — but algae helped some survive! 🧊 New research shows a phytoplankton boom in cool Arctic waters while warmer oceans collapsed. Read more: hubs.ly/Q03TlG-v0

Fun Fact Friday! Did you know algae can turbocharge plant growth? Researchers built the first high-throughput chloroplast screening platform using algae, testing thousands of genetic tweaks to create crops that grow faster & use less resources. Learn more: hubs.ly/Q03ScYS-0

Former @AlgaePrize Champions, Ben Gincley, Farhan Khan & Ameet Pinto, have launched Skopii! Skopii’s ARTiMiS imaging flow cytometer uses AI to count, classify & assess algal cells, making cultivation smarter & more resilient. Read their full story: hubs.ly/Q03RGB9N0

Fun Fact Friday! Did you know algae can be used as a natural dye? Cornell researchers re-engineered phycocyanin, a protein in algae, to create a stable, blue food colorant that could replace artificial dyes like Blue No. 1 & 2! Read more via Cornell: hubs.ly/Q03QRLt50

We’re thrilled to announce Yidan Zhang as the recipient of our Mary Rosenthal Travel Grant! Her research uses sugar kelp to create a plastic-free, compostable coating for paper food packaging, Learn more: hubs.ly/Q03QdZLJ0

Fun Fact Friday! 🌿 Algae fuel marine life and absorb CO2. Now, scientists have discovered nitrogen fixation under Arctic sea ice—bacteria making nutrients for algae. As ice melts, more algae growth could strengthen Arctic ecosystems. Learn more: hubs.ly/Q03Q2SV30

The Algae Foundation’s CEO, Dr. Ira Levine, recently presented at the 2025 ABO Summit, highlighting our programs that promote STEM education through algae-based learning, and strengthen the algae industry workforce. Initiatives include the Algae Academy, ATEC, AlgaePrize, & more.

Fun Fact Friday! Algae capture CO2 hundreds of times more efficiently than trees—but sticky cells in bioreactors can slow them down. MIT engineers found a chemical-free solution using electrochemical bubbles to boost carbon capture and biotech progress. hubs.ly/Q03P0Q4y0

Happy World Algae Day! 🌿 The latest edition of The Algae Update is here, and we’re celebrating the remarkable organisms that sustain life on our planet and inspire innovation: algae! Read it now: hubs.ly/Q03Ncpgb0