Algae Foundation Programs
Where STEM Education meets Workforce Development
At the heart of the Foundation’s mission is the belief that education and workforce development are the foundation of a sustainable bioeconomy.
Algal-based STEM educational modules are offered at no costs to educators and students, eliminating a significant barrier to entry. The course materials are geared towards exciting students and inspiring them to pursue further STEM education, and training a nationwide workforce with a strong skillset necessary for STEM careers.
Learn more about each of our programs below.
K–12 Programs
Algae Academy
The Algae Academy is a hands-on, algae-based STEM kit & NGSS aligned curriculum that uses algae as the vehicle for exploration while helping students hone necessary STEM skills offered at no-cost to educators. 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.
Cultivate
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.
Summer Algae Science Institute
The Summer Algae Science Institute (SASI) is a professional development training that introduces educators to the Algae Foundation's K-12 Algae Academy curriculum. Trainings are available both in-person and virtually. In-person trainings take place in new locations each year.
Collegiate and Secondary Education Programs
Algae Technology Educational Consortium
The Algae Foundation, in partnership with the National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR), launched the Algae Technology Educational Consortium (ATEC) project in 2016. We work closely with academic institutions, national research laboratories, and industry leaders to develop innovative educational programs that strengthen workforce capabilities by focusing on the skills needed to support the commercialization of algal products. These programs include hands-on, in-person curricula and laboratory experiences, as well as online offerings such as our Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) and Algae Cultivation Extension short courses.
AlgaePrize
The AlgaePrize Student Competition challenges students to become the next generation of bioeconomy professionals by developing novel solutions for algae production, processing, and new product development—paving the way toward gigaton-scale algae commercialization. Student teams compete for prize awards and national recognition, while shaping the global future of converting algae to biofuels (e.g., sustainable marine and aviation fuels), vitamin- and protein-rich foods and animal feeds, ecological services, and industrial compounds (e.g., biopolymers).
Scholarships
Mary Rosenthal was the founding force and first Executive Director of the Algae Foundation, as well as a passionate champion for STEM education. These grants are dedicated to her memory.
The Mary Rosenthal Memorial Student Travel Grant was established by the Algae Foundation to support students presenting a poster or oral presentation at the Algae Biomass Summit.
