Algaculture for Biotechnology
Debatably the most diverse group of organisms on earth and responsible for the oxygen in every second breath you take; algae are still relatively untapped in terms of biotechnology. If you’re currently working in algaculture, biotechnology or biofuels, or you require an understanding of the incredible potential of algae, this two-day course provides a solid introduction for you.
Perhaps you’re a budding algal specialist within this ‘growing’ field and want to get a head start? If so, this Algaculture for Biotechnology course was created for you.
Delivered by leading algal scientists from CCAP (the Culture Collection of Algae and Protozoa; the most diverse collection of its kind in the world, with 3000 strains of marine and freshwater algae, protists and seaweeds,) this course is one of the best introductions to algaculture.
What you’ll learn on this predominantly hands-on course:
Day 1 (17th June 2013)
- Presentations on algal biodiversity, nutrition and photosynthesis. This will cover both micro and macro-algae.
- The afternoon will be spent in the laboratory with CCAP; with practical algaculture sessions on isolating, maintaining and enumerating algae.
Your tutors are all leading scientists at CCAP or the Scottish Association for Marine Science (SAMS) and the course is led by Dr John Day. He has over 25 years’ experience in biotechnology and applied algal research and has taken a process all the way from test tube to market. (For further details of the excellent researchers you will have access to on these two days, please see their profiles below.)
Day 2 (18th June 2013)
- The second day begins with an introduction into algaculture for biotechnology and what the future may hold.
- You’ll also cover phycology and genomics, followed by a session specifically looking at biofuels.
- The whole afternoon will be spent in the laboratory and will finish with a session on mass algaculture.
This course has always been very well subscribed due to the experience of the tutors involved, so please book early to secure your place. It’s been designed for laboratory technicians, early researchers and experienced researchers who are moving into algal biotechnology and is recognised by the Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology (IMarEST). Attendance counts towards your Continuing Professional Development for both the IMarEST and The Science Council’s accolade of Chartered Scientist (CSci).
Price: £350 (VAT exempt) including all course materials and lunch on both days.
(Please bring a clean lab coat with you for the practical sessions.)
You may want to arrange overnight accommodation in Oban if required. (This is not included in the course fee.)
Application Information: Apply for your Algaculture for Biotechnology Course online, email SAMSCourses@sams.ac.uk or call 01631 559000
SPECIAL OFFER:
This course is followed by an Introduction to Molecular Methods for Algae Research Course, which runs on the 19th and 20th of June. You may wish to attend both courses whilst you’re visiting SAMS, in which case, a discount of £75 is available. Please book online using this link to ensure you receive the discount or contact us for further details.
You may also be interested in our Cryopreservation Course which takes place on the 1st and 2nd July and our new Masters Degree in Algal Biotechnology, which starts in September. This new 12 month Masters by Research (MRes) programme will provide you with the specialist knowledge and skills required for a career in this exciting growth sector.
Your Algaculture Tutors:
- Dr John Day is the Head of the Culture Collection of Algae and Protozoa (CCAP); an internationally important Biological Resource Centre. He has over 25 years’ experience in biotechnology and applied algal research. John has most recently been involved in two large biofuels projects; BioMara and EnAlgae. He has previously developed an algal-based aquaculture product from inception to market, including up-scaling from the lab to 50,000 bioreactors. The author of 80 papers/ chapters (47 in ISI listed journals); John has edited 3 books and was previously Editor in Chief of the European Journal of Phycology. He is a member of the International Committee on Culture Collections of Algae (ICCCA). Find out more about Dr John Day
- Dr Claire Gachon is interested in all aspects of algal host-pathogen interactions. Her current research delves into the Genomics of Marine Algae and their Pathogens and she recently published a joint paper questioning whether brown algae might be capable of adaptive immunity. Claire has recently been invited to speak in Korea, Japan and Bordeaux. She sits on the Steering committee of NERC’s National Biomolecular Analysis Facility and is also an Evaluator for Marie Curie Actions. Find out more about Dr Claire Gachon.
-
Christine Campbell is the Marine Curator of the CCAP collection and has 26 years’ experience in applied marine algal research. Christine has been involved in numerous R&D projects in the aquaculture, neutraceutical, food- industry and biofuels sectors involving culturing and processing algae and is experienced in isolation of pure algal cultures from many different environments. She is part of SAMS’ phytoplankton monitoring team; a member of the British Phycological Society; has co-authored six papers and has presented papers and posters at algal/culture collection scientific meetings throughout the UK and in Ireland, Spain and Germany. Find out more about Christine Campbell
What Is CCAP?
The Culture Collection of Algae and Protozoa (CCAP) is an internationally important Biological Resource Centre providing cultures and services for the scientific and algal biotechnology communities worldwide. The most diverse collection of its kind in the world; it contains 3000 strains of protists (algae & protozoa), cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) and seaweeds, originating from environments as diverse as polar snow to hyper-saline lakes. The Collection functions as the national service collection of algae and protozoa in the UK and is linked with other service collections worldwide via the World Federation for Culture Collections (WFCC).
SPECIAL OFFER:
This course is followed by an Introduction to Molecular Methods for Algae Research Course, which runs on the 19th and 20th of June. You may wish to attend both courses whilst you’re visiting SAMS, in which case, a discount of £75 is available. Please book online using this link to ensure you receive the discount or contact us for further details.
You may also be interested in our Cryopreservation Course which takes place on the 1st and 2nd July and our new Masters Degree in Algal Biotechnology, which starts in September. This new 12 month Masters by Research (MRes) programme will provide you with the specialist knowledge and skills required for a career in this exciting growth sector.
