To help ensure consistent U.S. Department of Energy AlgaePrize messaging, teams and stakeholders are encouraged to use language from the following documents in their outreach, or to use as a guide when creating their own language.
AlgaePrize Elevator Pitches
These summaries can be used in media announcements and other publicity efforts for the duration of the AlgaePrize.
50-Word Description
Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Alternative Fuels and Feedstocks Office and part of DOE’s American-Made program, AlgaePrize challenges students to expand novel solutions to algae production, processing, and new product development advancing the commercial algae value chain while preparing the next generation energy workforce.
150-Word Description
AlgaePrize, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Alternative Fuels and Feedstocks Office and supported by the Algae Foundation and the National Laboratory of the Rockies, 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, feed, and economic challenges facing our world today. Algae have the power to put fuels in our vehicles, recycle carbon dioxide, provide nutritious food for people and animals alike, and create jobs.
The AlgaePrize, part of DOE’s American-Made program, promotes the research and development of new ideas and technologies within the commercial algae value chain. The competition fosters workforce development and training, promotes job creation in rural and urban areas, and showcases the resource potential of algal biomass in the Unites States to be capable of producing billions of gallons per year of economical, renewable diesel and jet fuels.
400-Word Description
AlgaePrize is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Alternative Fuels and Feedstocks Office and supported by the Algae Foundation and the National Laboratory of the Rockies. Part of DOE’s American-Made program, the competition challenges students to become the next generation of bioeconomy professionals by expanding novel solutions to production, processing, and new product development on the way to gigaton-scale algae commercialization.
Products made from algae are a natural solution to the energy, food, feed, and economic challenges facing our world today. Through AlgaePrize, students develop real-world technologies that shape the future of the algae bioeconomy by advancing biofertilizers and biostimulants, performance-enhanced chemicals and products, biofoods and biofeeds, and innovative critical mineral recovery processes. Algae have the power to put fuels in our vehicles, recycle carbon dioxide, provide nutritious food for people and animals alike, and create jobs.
The AlgaePrize spans two academic years. Student teams competing in the AlgaePrize range from high school through graduate programs. Competitors will ultimately support the nation’s algal product research, algal commercial enhancement, and promote industry-driven education, training, and workforce development. The AlgaePrize will assist in establishing the competitors as serious candidates for the next generation of bioeconomy positions and entrepreneurial opportunities.
Student competitors will:
- Gain experience with innovative algal commercialization technologies
- Develop real-world solutions that shape the global future of algae by producing biofertilizers and biostimulants, performance enhanced chemicals and products, biofoods and biofeeds, and novel algal critical mineral recovery processes.
- Help build the algae bioeconomy of the future and create jobs in energy through their innovative research
- Develop collaborative and leadership skills by working on multidisciplinary student teams
- Engage and network with industry professionals, national lab researchers, and academics to forge relationships and connections that aid students’ transition to the algal-based bioeconomy employment or entrepreneurial endeavors upon graduation
- Compete to earn prize money and national recognition.
The three areas of interest for the AlgaePrize include both microalgae and macroalgae. Student teams should focus their project on one of the following areas of interest:
- Production
- Downstream Processing
- Strategic Critical Initiatives, Novel Products, Analytical Tools, or Ecosystem Services
Student teams will prepare creative solutions for real-world issues in the algae value chain. Selected finalist teams will complete a research project and attend the AlgaePrize Competition Event where teams:
- Present their research to a panel of judges.
- Compare their projects to those of other teams.
- Tour the National Laboratory of the Rockies facilities.
- Engage with a variety of organizations about careers related to algae technology, cultivation, and market development.
In addition to researching and developing new ideas and technologies, the AlgaePrize will showcase the resource potential of algal biomass in the United States to simultaneously improve and enhance our soils as biofertilizers and biostimulants, serve as direct and/or building blocks for performance-enhanced chemicals and products, recover critical minerals and rare earth elements from various sources, put fuels in our vehicles, recycle carbon dioxide (CO2), provide nutrition for animals and humans, and create jobs for millions of Americans.
The final five champion teams will be offered an opportunity to share details about their projects and experience in the competition, such as the Algae Biomass Summit.
AlgaePrize Messaging Guidelines
Please use these key messages about the AlgaePrize when developing your outreach materials.
- The AlgaePrize challenges student teams to develop novel solutions to algae production, processing, and new product development, that will help lower the costs of producing algal biofuels and bioproducts.
- The AlgaePrize competition’s goal is to incentivize the development, design, invention, or enhancement of a specific technology, cultivation, processing, or new product development within the commercial algae value chain.
- Students teams develop real-world technologies that shape the future of the algae bioeconomy by advancing biofertilizers and biostimulants, performance-enhanced chemicals and products, biofoods and biofeeds, and innovative critical mineral recovery processes.
- The competition provides the opportunity for students to engage and network with industry professionals, national lab researchers, and academics to forge relationships and connections that aid students’ transition to algal-based bioeconomy employment or entrepreneurial endeavors upon graduation.
- The AlgaePrize allows teams to compete for more than $300,000 in prize money and national recognition.
- Products made from algae are a natural solution to the energy, food, feed, and economic challenges facing our world today. Algae have the power to simultaneously put fuels in our vehicles, recycle carbon dioxide, provide nutrition for animals and humans, and create jobs for millions of Americans.
- In addition to generating new ideas for the development, design, and invention of technologies within the commercial algae value chain, the AlgaePrize will foster workforce development and training, promote job creation, and showcase the resource potential of algal biomass.
AlgaePrize Fact Sheet
This fact sheet provides an overview of the AlgaePrize competition.
AlgaePrize Competition Fact Sheet
Learn More
To view the full competition details, visit:
For questions about the AlgaePrize, email AlgaePrize@doe.gov.