Massive Open Online Course (MOOC)
About
ATEC is proud to offer free Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) through Coursera to educate the public about the versatility of algae as an essential solution for a sustainable planet. These courses are designed to be taken in succession: MOOC I: Introduction to Algae; MOOC II: Algae Biotechnology; MOOC III: Introduction to Seaweed; and MOOC IV: Algal Blooms and Proliferations. MOOC V: Algal Husbandry will be available soon.
There is a total of four free MOOCs currently offered. Each course includes a lesson overview, learning outcomes, multiple video lectures, quizzes, and suggested readings and citations.
You may request an optional Certificate of Completion at the end of each course for a fee paid to Coursera. Find more information about each MOOC and access the courses below:
MOOC I: Introduction to Algae
MOOC I will cover what algae are, why they are important, and why we are interested in them for both their environmental benefit, as well as their use for products. You will explore the vast diversity of algae, focusing on the characteristics and applications of the main types used commercially today. You will then delve into algal ecology, studying how environmental interactions, including pests and predators, affect algal productivity. Finally, you will examine the processes of algae bio-manufacturing, including production methods, as well as the products, benefits, and challenges that impact our ability to create commercially viable algae-based products.
MOOC II: Algae Biotechnology
MOOC II will cover how synthetic biology, genetic engineering, and metabolic engineering are used in algae biotechnology. You will also examine the current state of algae biotechnology research and tools, explore some common bio-products made from algae, and look at real-world companies using algae biotechnology to create products available to consumers today.
MOOC III: Introduction to Seaweeds
MOOC III will cover introductory seaweed farming techniques, basic seaweed cultivar domestication, and seaweed identification, systematics and evolutionary relationships.
MOOC IV: Algal Blooms & Proliferations
MOOC IV is intended to provide information to the general public who may be curious after seeing a TV clip or read a news article about harmful algal bloom. It will cover 13 of the known toxins associated with harmful algae, their impacts on human and animal health, and how we detect those toxins and their associated algae. Lastly, this course will discuss the different techniques used for mitigating the presence of harmful algae, their impact on water bodies and recreation, as well as how they might be in your food.
MOOC V: Algal Husbandry
Arriving soon!
Lecturers and industry leaders from all over the U.S. have provided their professional expertise through the courses.
Each course has been carefully designed to provide students with comprehensive knowledge of algae and its uses.
48,800+ students have been reached all over the world.
With Support From
These courses were produced by the Algae Technology Educational Consortium and UC San Diego with funding from the Algae Foundation in part by the National Renewable Energy Lab, and the U.S. Department of Energy’s Bioenergy Technologies Office
And a heartfelt thank you to all the professors, researchers, and experts who contributed their time and professional insights towards building the courses!
