When you think of algae, you might picture a neglected swimming pool after a long winter and the thought of a very expensive cleaning bill. Or maybe your local wetlands and a layer of green sitting across the stagnant water. You wouldn’t be wrong for these things springing to mind. These are the most common ways in which people will come into contact with algae, which leads to a negative stigma around algae.  

But within the walls of Murdoch University’s Algae Innovation Hub, there’s a team of researchers working to find unique uses for algae which could play a role in fighting climate change, and maybe just changing the public perception of these mighty organisms.  

One of those researchers at the Algae Innovation Hub is Ana Cristina Wright Ramirez, a postgraduate student with a genuine passion for learning about the incredible potential of algae in supporting the circular economy.  

Ana studied a Bachelor of Science with a major in marine biology and a minor in statistics, which is where she first discovered the importance of algae and the role that it plays in marine ecosystems, recognising that the potential of algae was much 

“Learning about the diverse types and uses of algae changed my perspective on marine ecosystems and opened my eyes to the sustainability opportunities algae can offer.” 

This experience led Ana to undertake postgraduate studies, with the goal of her Honours research being to determine if the growth of microalgae could open an opportunity to harvest the growth for use in agricultural feed.  

“I’m interested in how desalination reject brine might be used after it’s typically discarded, and my project aims to connect these questions. If microalgae growth proves successful, it could open opportunities to sustainably harvest microalgae from desalination reject brine for use in aquaculture feed.” 

Successfully harvesting microalgae for aquaculture feed could be a game changer for the $2 billion industry in Australia, which has been seeking sustainable alternatives to support the growing demand for seafood both domestically and internationally.  

For Ana, the part of her research which she finds most rewarding is learning about the power algae to support a circular economy and having the opportunity to share knowledge with other passionate people with the same drive to achieve important sustainability goals.  

Ana’s idea of a brighter future is seeing less negative stigma around algae and a broader understanding of the benefits it can bring to the world.  

“It looks like finding better uses for desalination reject water, where these wastewater steams are transformed into valuable resources. My work contributes to this vision by demonstrating how algae can be key in building a more circular and sustainable economy.” 

With the determination of Ana and the wider team at the Algae Innovation Hub, the future of algae as a diverse product is exceptionally bright.  

Ana and so many others from our community are contributing in their own unique ways to making a brighter future a reality each and every day.