Algae Foundation Annual Report 2023

ANNUAL REPORT 2023

June 1, 2024

AMESSAGEFROM OURCEO

IKE LEVINE

CEO, The Algae Foundation

All of the Board of Directors, Staff, and Volunteers worked tirelessly to make 2023 a successful year for the Algae Foundation and we are excited to bring that same energy and effort into achieving our future goals.

This year we completed the first AlgaePrize student competition and launched the second AlgaePrize (2023-2025), prepared our fourth Algae MOOC, reached over 200,000 students, developed Phycoverse – the first algae board game and received the highest score of any program in the 2023 DOE BETO Advanced Algal Systems Peer Review.

We have big plans for 2024 and beyond, including reaching every K-12 school district in the nation (approx. 13,000), and we are grateful to have your support along the way.

WHYWEDO WHATWEDO

VISION

We see a future that embraces algae as an essential solution for a sustainable and healthy planet.

MISSION

Our mission is to promote the power of algae to enhance human society and contribute to a sustainable environment through education, workforce development, mentoring, and public outreach.

To accomplish its mission, the Algae Foundation: Develops STEM educational programs offered from K-Gray (K-12, college level, adult continued education); Supports the development of future leaders throughout the algae industry through scholarships/grants and organizational support; and Facilitates communication and outreach amongst private, academic, and public sectors to increase literacy and awareness of the benefits of algae for humankind and the planet.

ALGAEFOUNDATION IMPACT

TheimpactoftheAlgaeFoundation’sprogramsfallsinto twocategories–educationandoutreach.

First, the STEM-based educational modules developed by the Foundation are uniquely designed to reach broad audiences who may not otherwise have access to cutting-edge course materials. These programs introduce algae as an important group of organisms that can enable multiple sustainable industries, improve quality of life for people on all continents, and preserve the planet. All STEM programs are offered free to educators and students and can be accessed virtually, eliminating a significant educational barrier. The course materials are geared towards exciting students about STEM, inspiring them to pursue further STEM education, and training a workforce with the strong skillset necessary for STEM careers.

Secondly, the Algae Foundation is committed to promoting the power of algae through outreach. Algae, when applied at scale, have the capacity to provide solutions to several of today’s global dilemmas. Algae will be a fundamental source of energy, nutrition, products, and ecological services for sustainable societies globally. We need a knowledgeable prepared workforce and an educated public to help advance algae products. The Algae Foundation endeavors to educate people on the benefits of algae and to create enthusiasm for the crop as an essential solution for a sustainable future.

755 Teachers Served

63,498

Served

SETS US APART

ALGAEFOUNDATION PROGRAMS

K-12EDUCATIONANDPROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Algae Academy

Summer Algae Science Institute (SASI)

Cultivate

Microscope Equity Grant*

POST-SECONDARYEDUCATIONANDWORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT

Algae Technology Educational Consortium (ATEC)

Algal Massive Open Online Courses (Algal-MOOCs)

Algae Cultivation Extension Short-courses (ACES)

Collegiate Curriculum – Algae Cultivation and Algae Biotechnology

Micro-credentialing Digital Badging

Internship Clearinghouse

COLLEGIATECOMPETETIONS

AlgaePrize

STUDENTSCHOLARSHIPS

Mary Rosenthal Memorial Scholarships

EDUCATIONFORALLAGES

Algae Games*

Algae have the potential to be a solution to some of society’s biggest challenges. What can we use as renewable fuel? Algae. How will we feed a growing population? Algae. What’s that green stuff growing in the pool? Algae.

The Algae Academy takes algae from “Ick” to “Awesome!” and has students nationwide asking their own big questions as they explore the potential of algae in their classrooms. The Algae Academy is a FREE hands-on, algae-based STEM kit & NGSS aligned curriculum that uses algae as the vehicle for exploration while helping students hone necessary STEM skills. Students cultivate algae, monitor its growth, analyze and interpret data, and make connections as to how algae production has a positive impact on the global environment.

2023-2024 ACADEMIC YEAR IN REVIEW

482

633

Teachers

53,290 Schools

Students

OURBIGGESTYEARYET

The Algae Academy served more teachers and students than ever before!

Algae Academy is citizen science at its best. Students …are introduced to a whole field of science and entrepreneurship that they would not otherwise experience. Now my students are finding algae everywhere!

- Rebecca VanRy, Science Specialist at Kent Place School, NJ

Summer Algae Science

Institute

ALGAL BASED EDUCATOR TRAINING

The Summer Algae Science Institute (SASI) is a hands-on professional development training that introduces educators to the Algae Foundation's K-12 Algae Academy curriculum. Trainings are available both in-person and virtually.

The SASI training is facilitated by an Algae Academy alumni educator and takes participants through the 5 days of the Algae Academy curriculum, including the live algae lab! In-person SASI trainings have teachers working together with lab supplies and live algae. Virtual SASI participants each receive their own Algae Academy “minikit” that includes everything they need to complete the lab during the virtual training.

3 In-Person Trainings

4 Virtual Trainings

111 Teachers Served

Cultivate is a hands-on, AFNR (Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources) aligned curriculum designed for high school agriculture students. Over two weeks, students learn about the basic living requirements of algae, the ins and outs of algae farming, get their hands dirty with experimental design, and inoculate their own algae ponds! The rtnership with USDA, NIFA, and the National FFA

2023/2024

238 Teachers 11

Students

I had students coming in every day to check on the algae! My other classes also asked a million questions about the ponds. It was so much fun!

-Emily Schuster, Ag Teacher at Princeville High School, AL

Cultivate Outreach

Jake Nalley, Algae Foundation Board Member, and Shelby Ball, FFA Teacher Ambassador, presented a Cultivate teacher workshop at the National FFA Convention in Indianapolis, IN.

The Algae Foundation’s Algae Technology Educational Consortium (ATEC) project recognizes that algal production will provide a sustainable source of biomass for bio-based products, feed, fuel and foods, thereby creating high quality jobs for an educated workforce.

A partnership among academic institutions, national research laboratories, and industry leaders, the Consortium’s goal is to develop novel educational programs to strengthen industry workforce capabilities by focusing on the skills needed to support the commercialization of algal products. Through algal education, students learn practical applications of farming and biotechnology, developing the skills for the next generation of algal-based jobs. ATEC is currently comprised of 43 partner academic and research institutions based throughout the Unites States

2022-2023

In April 2023, ATEC members participated at the inaugural AlgaePrize competition weekend as judges, competitors, and guests. In October 2023, members met for our second bi-annual ATEC meeting in Madison, Wisconsin, to engage in thoughtful discussions around curriculum development. Other highlights include:

Advancements were made on the Heterotrophic Course Development, with members starting to implement the curriculum in their classrooms.

The 4th Massive Open Online Course (MOOC), "Algal Blooms & Proliferations," was completed and is currently live on Coursera.

Algae Cultivation Extension Short-courses (ACES) 2.0 was launched.

Gamification of algae began through the creation of Phycoverse, where members tested the first iterations of the game.

Our long standing partnership w students and classroom. Persona some of my most rewarding profes

-Ondine Frauenglass, Director - Inn

The AlgaePrize, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), is a national algal-based competition that challenges students to become the next generation of bioeconomy professionals by expanding novel solutions to production, processing, and new product development on the way to gigaton-scale algae commercialization for fuel, food, products, and CO2 utilization/sequestration. The competition spans two academic years, and competing teams range from high school through graduate programs.

2022-2023

59 total participating teams

218 total participating students

59 total participating schools

35 total participating states

14 total participating countries

Launched in January 2022, the inaugural AlgaePrize 2022-2023 competition selected 15 finalist teams from 11 states and Puerto Rico. Each finalist team received $5,000 and the chance to win up to $20,000 in total prize money.

During the AlgaePrize Competition weekend on April 14–16, 2023, the finalist teams showcased their projects to a panel of judges at NREL in Golden, Colorado. Our Grand Champion team, Kelp! I Need Some Algae, won an incredible $15,000 in prize money. Additionally, our four Champion teams Algaeorithm, PhycoSight, PUPR AlgaePrize Team, and UC Davis Giant Kelp Team each received $10,000.

From developing software that promotes bioenergy and extracting electrolytes for use in batteries to identifying alternative fertilizers and natural fibers for string to reduce costs and plastic waste in commercial seaweed hatcheries, these students engaged in incredible work during the competition!

"The AlgaePrize provided an unparalleled opportunity for 1:1 interactions with some of the foremost minds in the algae industry. Names that carry immense weight in the algae world having intent focus on our project gave us feedback and insights we would never have access to on our own."

-Algaeprize 2022-2023 Student Competitor

MARYROSENTHAL MEMORIAL STUDENTTRAVELGRANT

The Mary Rosenthal Memorial Student Travel Grant supports students presenting a poster or oral presentation at the annual Algae Biomass Summit. Mary Rosenthal was the founding force and first executive director of the Algae Foundation. She was a champion for STEM education. These grants are dedicated to her memory.

2023AWARDRECIPIENTS

Oral Presentation:

Enhanced elimination of Particulate matter, Formaldehyde, and Total Volatile Organic Compounds (TVOC’s) using diatoms embedded microalgal biochar (non-activated) for indoor air purification

Technology hi

Poster Presentation:

Greatly enhanced thermostability of phycocyanin from cyanobacteria

SUNIL TIWARI

School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University

ALGAEFOUNDATION BOARDOFDIRECTORS

The Algae Foundation is governed by a Board of Directors comprised of outstanding professionals in business, commercial industry, national laboratories, and academics. This Board’s primary focus is fundraising to ensure continued support of ongoing programming and the development of new initiatives.

EDMUND GAITHER

GREG MITCHELL

JAKE NALLEY

PETER KOFFLER

PHILIP PIENKOS TIFFANY CANNIS

Some of the Algae Foundation Board and staff at Cook’s Branch Conservancy in Texas. From left: Ira "Ike" Levine, Greg Mitchell, Jesse Traller Ojeda, Marissa Nalley, Jake Nalley, and Phil Pienkos.

VALUED PARTNERS

We want to extend our heartfelt thanks to those who have supported us this year and in years past: our funders, our partners, our peers. Thank you.

ALGAE BIOMASS ORGANIZATION

ALLAN HANCOCK COLLEGE

AUSTIN COMMUNITY COLLEGE

BAXTER CENTER FOR SCIENCE EDUCATION AT NORTHWESTERN

BIOPHARMACEUTICAL TECHNOLOGY CENTER INSTITUTE (BTC INSTITUTE)

BIGELOW LABORATORY FOR OCEAN SCIENCES

CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, FRESNO

CONTRA COSTA COLLEGE

DEL VALLE HIGH SCHOOL

DELGADO COMMUNITY COLLEGE

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY, BIOENERGY TECHNOLOGIES OFFICE (BETO)

FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY

HARMON CONSULTING

HAWAII COMMUNITY COLLEGE

INSTITUTE FOR SYSTEMS BIOLOGY (ISB)

JAMES ENOCHS HIGH SCHOOL

JOHNSON COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE

KENNEDY-KING COLLEGE

LAS ALAMOS NATIONAL LABORATORY

LAS POSITAS COLLEGE

LANEY COMMUNITY COLLEGE

VALUED PARTNERSCONT.

LENOIR COMMUNITY COLLEGE

LIVINGSTON HIGH SCHOOL

LONE STAR COLLEGE

MIDLAND COLLEGE

NATIONAL FFA ORGANIZATION

NATIONAL RENEWABLE ENERGY LAB

NATIONAL SCIENCE TEACHERS ASSOCIATION

OAKLAND UNIVERSITY

PIERCE COLLEGE

PRAIRIE VIEW A&M UNIVERSITY

RUTGERS UNIVERSITY

SANTA FE COMMUNITY COLLEGE

SHORELINE COMMUNITY COLLEGE

SOLANO COMMUNITY COLLEGE

SOUTH TEXAS COLLEGE

UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS – FORT SMITH

UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT

UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN MAINE

TARLETON STATE UNIVERSITY

UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN

UTEX CULTURE COLLECTION

UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS RIO GRANDE VALLEY

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE (NIFA)

WINDWARD COMMUNITY COLLEGE