Algal science, Seaweed

Celebrating World Oceans Day: Museum Promotes Algae Science

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KEELUNG – The opening ceremony of World Oceans Day kicked off at the National Museum of Marine Science and Technology in the city of Keelung in Taiwan on Sunday morning with carnival performance, algae science exhibition, and food fair. The World Oceans Days is an annual event officially recognized by the United… Nations in 2008 to honor the world’s oceans, celebrate the products the ocean provides, and also a time to apprecieate its own intrinsic value.

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Staffs of the museum beautifully makeup as marine organisms in the opening ceremony of the World Oceans Day.

One of the highlight of the event was the showcase of algae science and biotechnology exhibition, namely “Meet the Algae”, which presented varieties of living marine macroalgae (seaweeds), microalgae, and phytoplanktons.

At the entrance of the exhibition, visitor received a free card with their own astronomical sign where each sign was represented by a type of alga. Visitors then scanned their own card in front of a monitor where the screen subsequently displayed their self-portrait along with the type of alga.

Free astronomical sign card was given to each visitor at the entrance
A card with astronomical sign on it was given to each visitor at the entrance. In this case, Pices was represented by a type of red alga known as Halymania, meaning the romantic and gentle alga in the vast ocean.
When the card with astronomical was scanned in front of the monitor, the algal which represented the sign was displayed on the screen with their own portrait.
When the card with astronomical sign was scanned in front of the monitor, the alga which represented the sign was displayed on the screen with their own portrait.
The wall along the corridor lead to the entrance of the exhibition was beautifully decorated with algae, each represented by an astronomical sign.
The wall along the corridor, leading to the entrance of the exhibition, was beautifully decorated with algae, each represented by an astronomical sign. In this picture, Gemini, represented by an algal genus of Caulerpa, meaning a highly adaptable, fickle and restless alga in a lively sea.

The visit to the exhibition was started with an activity called “alga hunters”, or a teaching to the people on “hunting” different types of algae found locally at the coastal line of Taiwan. A free gift was given to visitors at the end of the exhibition after they have collected all the stamps during the algae hunt. 

Showcase of live algae in aquarium glass tanks.
Showcase of live algae in aquarium glass tanks.

“Meet the Algae” exhibition also displayed commercially available algae products such as health supplements, to name a few, “Spirulina”, “Fucoidan”, etc.

In addition, the exhibition explained the importance of algae biotechnology in terms of carbon dioxide fixation, ocean and nutrient remediation, as well as sustainable biofuel production. 

Contents described algae biotechnology and its applications in health industry, biofuel production, and environmental remediation.
Contents described algae biotechnology and its applications in aquaculture, health industry, biofuel production, and environmental remediation.

The “Meet the Algae” exhibition starts from 8th of June to the 5th of September, 2014. Entrance is free.

For more information about the exhibition, kindly visit Taiwan’s National Museum of Marine Science and Technology official website at: http://www.nmmst.gov.tw/

Kian, Algae Asia News Exclusive News

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