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Dr. Stephen Mayfield +1 more instructor

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Introduction to Algae

University of California San Diego

About this Course

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This course was produced by the Algae Technology Educational Consortium and UC San Diego with funding from the Algae Foundation, the National Renewable Energy Lab, and the U.S. Department of Energy.
Algae are an extremely diverse group of organisms that can be found in almost every ecosystem on the planet, and they play an essential role for life on earth. They are little bio-factories that use the process of photosynthesis to create chemical compounds that we can utilize for food, feed, medicine, and even energy. We’ve brought together some of foremost algae experts from industry and academia to teach you the fundamentals of algae.

This course 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 also explore the vast diversity of algae including the characteristics and applications of some of the main types of algae that are in commercial use today.

Later you will learn about algal ecology and how interactions with environment, including pests and predators, affect algal productivity. And finally you will examine the processes of algae bio-manufacturing including production processes, as well as some of the products, benefits, and challenges that impact our ability to make commercially viable products from algae.

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Coursera Labs

Includes hands on learning projects.

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Intermediate Level

Approx. 10 hours to complete

English

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Flexible deadlines

Reset deadlines in accordance to your schedule.

Shareable Certificate

Earn a Certificate upon completion

100% online

Start instantly and learn at your own schedule.

Coursera Labs

Includes hands on learning projects.

Learn more about Coursera Labs

Intermediate Level

Approx. 10 hours to complete

English

Could your company benefit from training employees on in-demand skills?

Try Coursera for Business

Instructors

Instructor rating

4.69/5 (396 Ratings)

Dr. Stephen Mayfield

Professor of Molecular Biology

University of California San Diego

94,583 Learners

3 Courses

Ira "Ike" Levine

Professor, Natural and Applied Sciences

University of Southern Maine

31,664 Learners

3 Courses

Offered by

University of California San Diego

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Syllabus - What you will learn from this course

Content Rating98%(3,784 ratings)

Week1

Week 1

2 hours to complete

Algae Basics

2 hours to complete

5 videos (Total 42 min), 4 readings, 1 quiz

Week2

Week 2

2 hours to complete

Algal Diversity

2 hours to complete

5 videos (Total 60 min), 5 readings, 1 quiz

Week3

Week 3

2 hours to complete

Algal Ecology

2 hours to complete

3 videos (Total 46 min), 3 readings, 1 quiz

Week4

Week 4

2 hours to complete

Algae Biomanufacturing Part 1

2 hours to complete

4 videos (Total 50 min), 4 readings, 1 quiz

Reviews

4.7

325 reviews

5 stars
78.41%
4 stars
18.11%
3 stars
2.48%
2 stars
0.71%
1 star
0.26%

TOP REVIEWS FROM INTRODUCTION TO ALGAE

by AMOct 12, 2019

I wish there was an option that I could see the captions (the sentences that the speaker spoke) during the presentations like watching TV with the CC is on... Just a suggestion.

by PGApr 15, 2020

Very interesting and inspiring course! So cool to learn about the history and great diversity of algae, as well as the potential uses of algae in renewable energy and for sustainable materials.

by BBJan 26, 2021

This course is worth to be attended. The quality of material and teachers is high. I suggest to update/add some parts relevant to latest industrial applications.

by EUAug 25, 2020

It's a beautifully explained intro to algae course which definitely motivates one to go further and learn more about the vast diversity of algae and the products one can get from them.

View all reviews

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Is financial aid available?
Yes. In select learning programs, you can apply for financial aid or a scholarship if you can’t afford the enrollment fee. If fin aid or scholarship is available for your learning program selection, you’ll find a link to apply on the description page.

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Introduction to Algae

Introduction to Algae

About this Course