Videos

Below are videos made by our lab over the last few years. They are intended to be simple 'how to' videos that teachers can use to get started. Some of the videos can also be shown to students. More videos will be added as they are completed.

Growing Algae for Fuel: Getting Started

This simple video outlines the methods for growing algae that we found to work best in our lab and that we believe will work best in a classroom setting. It mainly focuses on how to set up an algae growth lab as well as how to maintain algae. Keep in mind that these methods and materials worked best in our lab. Some items may be optional or not suitable for your classroom.

Growing Algae for Fuel: Supplies

This video goes over the supplies that are ideal for growing algae in a school lab setting. Most of the supplies are relatively cheap. Some of the items like the Hepa-Filter, heat mats, and light timers are optional.

Simple Miracle Gro Growth Media

Traditional mediums for growing algae are often expensive and time consuming to prepare. A few years ago, it was discovered that Miracle Gro made a fertilizer with almost the exact portions of NKP to grow algae. This video explains how to make it. This media is very compatible with Chlorella as well as a few other types of algae. We are planning on making a master list of Miracle Gro compatible algae species in the coming months.

How to Isolate Algae

Being able to isolate a specific species of algae is important in starting/maintaing a lab. This video describes two methods for how to prepare agar in order to grow specific colonies of algae on petri dishes. The second method is much simpler and utilizes the "Simple Miracle Gro Algae Media" as described in the video on the left. This method can be seen at 1:47.

Counting Cells with a Disposable Hemocytometer

In order to harvest the most algae and thus harvest the most lipids from your algae, it is necessary to be able to quantify the actual amount of algae you have in a sample. Using cheap disposable hemocytometers is a simple way to do this. This video describes our technique for counting cells and can be easily duplicated in a classroom. Note that the iodine tincture is ideal, but not necessary as it is a closely controlled chemical that poses some dangers if mishandled.

Maximum Sustainable Yield

This video contains a slightly more in-depth explanation of maximum sustainable yield than the previous video. This video can be played in classrooms in place of a lecture as a means of teaching population dynamics.

Algae Harvest

Harvesting algae at the right point is crucial to efficient production of algae for fuels. This video explains how to determine when to harvest algae.

The Volta Experiment

The volta experiment is a way to illustrate the amount of untapped energy that is in the environment. The concept of this experiment is as follows:

The silty bottom of vegetation-rich ponds contains many trapped gasses. Among these are sulfur and methane. Methane is the gas we are dealing with in this video.
When disturbed, these gasses float to the surface.
They can then be lit by a lighter and a small fireball will "erupt" from a funnel.

*Please use caution and judgement when performing this experiment.*

Vampire Energy PSA

This PSA was created by one of our Algae Research Team Members. It discusses vampire engery, or the engery that is used by electronics when they are not in use.