Collage of 2022–2023 AlgaePrize finalist teams
15 teams are advancing as finalists in the U.S. Department of Energy Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) 2022–2023 AlgaePrize competition.
Finalist teams were selected based on their 10-page research synopsis which described each team’s research plan for their proposed project within the AlgaePrize’s areas of interest. Each team’s research synopsis:
- Described how the team’s proposed research compares to and will advance the current state of technology
- Displayed a sound understanding of algae systems whether in production, downstream processing, or new product or analytical tool development, and the impact of their research
- Included how diversity, equity, and inclusion will be included and addressed within their proposed effort.
The research summaries were reviewed and scored by a panel of judges and 15 teams in total were selected as finalists.
These finalist teams will receive $5,000 in funding to support their research projects. Over the next few months, teams will conduct their proposed research and will provide research updates at regular intervals, including presenting their research synopsis to AlgaePrize organizers and completing an Introduction to Algae Massive Open Online Course. Teams will then present their projects to a panel of judges during the AlgaePrize Competition Weekend, April 14–16, 2023, at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Golden, Colorado. The judges will select five teams as the AlgaePrize winners, and each winning team will receive a $10,000 prize. From those five, one Grand Champion will be selected who will receive an additional $5,000 prize.
Congratulations to the 15 finalist teams advancing in the competition from the following educational institutions:
| Team Name | Team Institution | Institute Locations | Zip Codes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Algaeorithm | Los Altos High School The Paideia School Institute for Systems Biology |
Los Altos, CA Atlanta, GA Seattle, WA |
94022 30307 98109 |
| Advanced Cultivation Monitoring E (A.C.M.E) | Arizona State University New York University |
Tempe, AZ New York City, NY |
85281 10012 |
| FitoEnergy Team | University of Puerto Rico | Rio Piedras, PR | 00931 |
| Keep Calm and Chlamy On | University of California San Diego | La Jolla, CA | 92093 |
| Kelp! I Need Some Algae | University of Alaska Fairbanks | Fairbanks, AK | 99775 |
| PhycoSight | Georgia Institute of Technology | Atlanta, GA | 30332 |
| Polyculture Jam | Austin Community College University of Texas at Austin Del Valle High School Humboldt State University |
Austin, TX Austin, TX Del Valle, TX Arcata, CA |
78752 78712 79907 95521 |
| Pond Doctors | California State University Monterey California State University San Jose Cabrillo College Moss Landing Marine Laboratories |
Seaside, CA San Jose, CA Aptos, CA Moss Landing, CA |
93955 95192 95003 95039 |
| PUPR AlgaePrize Team | Polytechnic University of Puerto Rico | San Juan, PR | 00918 |
| Purdue ChemE | Purdue University | West Lafayette, IN | 47907 |
| The Clean Water Cultivators | Santa Fe Community College | Santa Fe, NM | 87508 |
| The Cyantific Method | Colorado State University | Fort Collins, CO | 80523 |
| Toxic Ambrosia Salad | Santa Fe Community College Delgado Community College |
Santa Fe, NM New Orleans, LA |
87508 70119 |
| UC Davis Giant Kelp Team | University of California Davis | Davis, CA | 95616 |
| Underground Ocean Farmers | Santa Fe Community College | Santa Fe, NM | 87508 |
About the AlgaePrize
The 2022–2023 AlgaePrize, sponsored by BETO and supported by the Algae Foundation and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, challenges students to be the next generation of bioeconomy professionals in developing novel solutions supporting gigaton-scale algae commercialization. Products made from algae are a natural solution to the energy, food, economic, and climate challenges facing our world today. Algae have the power to put fuels in our vehicles, recycle carbon dioxide, provide nutritious food, and create jobs.
In addition to researching and developing new ideas and technologies within the commercial algae value chain, the AlgaePrize will foster workforce development and training, promote job creation in rural and urban areas, support diversity and inclusion throughout the student and judging teams, and showcase the resource potential of algal biomass in the United States to be capable of producing billions of gallons per year of economical, renewable diesel and jet fuels.
About BETO
BETO supports research and development to lower the costs of producing algal biofuels—such as sustainable aviation fuels—and bioproducts. BETO is working to build the algae bioeconomy of the future, where fossil fuels could be replaced with an abundant, renewable, and flexible source of energy.