AlgaePrize 2022–2023 Competition

Group photo of diverse participants at the DOE Science Bowl 2022-2023 competition.

The U.S. Department of Energy’s Alternative Fuels and Feedstocks Office (AFFO formerly BETO), in partnership with the Algae Foundation and the National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR) announced the AlgaePrize 2022–2023 Competition grand champion and champion teams!

Launched in January 2022, the student competition challenged 64 student teams with 307 individual competitors from high schools, colleges, and universities across the United States. The teams developed innovative solutions for algae production, processing, and new product development to lower the costs of producing algal biofuels and bioproducts.

During the AlgaePrize 2023 Competition weekend, held on April 14–16, 2023, 14 finalist teams from 11 states and Puerto Rico showcased their projects to a panel of judges at NLR in Golden, Colorado.

Congratulations to all teams!

Grand Champion Team

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Prize: $15,000

Kelp! I Need Some Algae | University of Alaska Fairbanks (AK)
Kelp! I Need Some Algae is looking to reduce expense and plastic waste in commercial seaweed hatcheries by identifying an alternative fertilizer solution and natural fibers for string.

Champion Teams

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Algaeorithm | Los Altos High School (CA), The Paideia School (GA), Institute for Systems Biology (WA)
Algaeorithm has developed an image-analysis application that can rapidly quantify information about algae datasets. It also includes an educational platform to promote bioenergy and machine learning to the next generation of scientists.

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PhycoSight | Georgia Institute of Technology (GA)
PhycoSight has developed a low-cost and automated imaging platform that implements AI to characterize phenotypic features of algae in industry and the environment.

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PUPR AlgaePrize Team | Polytechnic University of Puerto Rico (PR)
PUPR AlgaePrize Team has collected sargassum and converted it into products that are better for the environment. The team has successfully 3D printed an iPhone case using composite pellets containing 30% by weight of Sargassum Biomass. The fabrication of this consumer good represents a milestone for this project, since this is the first consumer good fabricated with a high Sargassum content.

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UC Davis Giant Kelp Team | University of California, Davis (CA)
UC Davis Giant Kelp Team is continuing to study the use of sustainable extraction and analytical techniques of microalga compounds. The team’s focus is on understanding the impacts of processing conditions on the properties of the extracts generated to produce healthier and more functional algae extracts.

Finalist Teams

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FitoEnergy Team
University of Puerto Rico (PR)

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Keep Calm and Chlamy On
University of California San Diego (CA)

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Polyculture Jam
Austin Community College (TX), University of Texas at Austin (TX), Del Valle High School (TX), Humboldt State University (CA)

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Pond Doctors
California State University Monterey (CA), California State University San Jose (CA), Cabrillo College (CA), Moss Landing Marine Laboratories (CA)

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PheFeed
Purdue University (IN)

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The Clean Water Cultivators
Santa Fe Community College (NM)

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The Cyantific Method
Colorado State University (CO)

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Toxic Ambrosia Salad
Santa Fe Community College (NM), Delgado Community College (LA)

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Underground Ocean Farmers
Santa Fe Community College (NM)