Outline provisional programme
Tuesday: Arrival, registration and ice-breaker
Wednesday: General phycology and special sessions, poster session
Thursday: Irene Manton Prize session, special session, social event
Friday: General phycology session, awards and closing ceremony, optional rocky shore field trip
Special sessions
Blue carbon
There is increasing interest in the capacity of algae to contribute to meeting ‘net zero’ emissions targets. Through invited and contributed presentations, this session explores the latest scientific evidence linking algae (micro- and macro-) to carbon storage and sequestration. We anticipate a diverse and vibrant session, and we encourage contributions related to all aspects the topic – whether freshwater or marine, micro- or macro-algal. We are also interested in management interventions such as ecosystem restoration as a tool to enhance blue carbon services.
Food systems
Algae form an important and growing part of the food system in the UK and worldwide. Research in algae and food systems include optimising strain selection, cultivation methods, and post-harvesting processes, as well as novel applications such as using algae as a cattle feed supplement to reduce methane emissions. This session embraces broad contributions and aims to explore the potential of research to unlock the full potential for algae in sustainable future food systems.
Sustainable industrial applications
Algae are an important source of innovation for enhancing sustainability in materials, remediation, wastewater treatment, and other industrial processes. Through invited and contributed presentations, this session will explore the latest scientific findings fuelling the emergence of new industrial applications for algae. The scope of this session is intentionally broad to allow it to be shaped by contributors, so we encourage diverse and ambitious submissions.