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Department of Plant Sciences

 
The Plant Metabolism Research Group regularly exhibits on both Vitamins and Algae at Science on Saturday in Cambridge and is involved in a number of other public engagement activities.
 

Learn about Algae Guide

Algae are important for many reasons, they provide food, vitamins, cosmetics and colourants, as well as a range of biofuel sources and substitutes for plastics and gels. Understanding the diversity of algae as well as their biology is therfore vital. See our guide to learning more about algae.
 

Meet the Algae

In 2010 the group exhibited at the Royal Society Summer Science Exhibition at the Royal Festival Hall in London. Its stant Meet the Algae included displays of different algae, hands-on analysis of photosynthetic pigments and demonstrations of a device where algae are used to generate electricity. The exhibition enabled the group to reach a wide audience from all ages and interests, and to introduce them to different groups of algae, showing them how they move in their environment and how algae can harness sunlight to produce hydrogen, electricity or other forms of green energy.
 
 
Microscopic phytoplankton blooms sequester one third of carbon emissions each year, and feed the aquatic food chain from shrimps to whales. Macroalgae (seaweeds) are found in the sea and on the seashore - in rockpools we readily spot green, red and brown fronds. There are an incredible array of algae, from dancing colonies of Volvox, diverse dinoflagellates, stunning diatoms and chalk-forming coccolithophorids, to enormous kelp forests in all aquatic environments.
 
Past aquatic micro-organisms gave us oil and gas, so how can we stop trading on past sunlight to use algae in today's world? Algae provide food, vitamins, cosmetics and colourants, as well as a range of biofuel sources and substitutes for plastics and gels. These algal products show how useful these organisms can be for mankind.
 
Many of the features of the exhibit are available as a Teaching resource for 14-16 year olds. Photos of the group's Meet the Algae stand at the Summer Science Festival can be seen on the Plant Metabolism Group Flickr. For more information on the Group's Meet the Algae exhibit contact Professor Alison Smith or email algae@plantsci.cam.ac.uk.
 
 
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Volvox image 1 (jpg) Volvox image 2 - streamlines (png)
Volvox image 3 - waltzing (jpg)