The Algae Foundation® and algal-based education initiatives

Abstract

The Algae Foundation®, an American non-profit organization formed in February 2013, is developing a rich portfolio of algal-based Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) initiatives. The Algae Foundation’s efforts include the following: (1) formation of the Algae Technology Educational Consortium (ATEC); (2) development of two community college degrees: (i) Algal Biology and Cultivation and (ii) Algal Biotechnology; (3) development of the Algae Cultivation Extension Short-courses (ACES); (4) kindergarten to 12th grade (K–12) algal-based STEM curriculum initiatives; (5) student scholarships; and (6) funding of the revision of the Industrial Algae Measurements publication. The Algae Foundation® has been supported by more than 50 volunteers dedicating their time and intellectual capital to achieving its stated goals. The ATEC effort has initiated its first degree program in Algal Biology and Cultivation at Santa Fe Community College (SFCC), New Mexico, USA, in the Fall 2016 semester. The Algal Biotechnology degree program is scheduled to start in the Fall 2017 semester at Austin Community College (ACC), Texas, USA. A K–12 algal-based STEM initiative completed its pilot debut at the Aviara Oaks Middle School, Carlsbad, California, USA, in Spring 2016. The expansion of the algal curriculum K–12 program will reach 50 schools in 2017 to be followed by a national rollout in 2018.