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Introduction to Seaweeds

Introduction to Seaweeds

Instructors: Ira "Ike" Levine

5,077 already enrolled

Included with

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7 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

77 reviews

Intermediate level

Recommended experience

3 weeks to complete

at 10 hours a week

Flexible schedule

Learn at your own pace

7 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

77 reviews

Intermediate level

Recommended experience

3 weeks to complete

at 10 hours a week

Flexible schedule

Learn at your own pace

What you'll learn

Introductory seaweed farming techniques.
Basic seaweed cultivar domestication.
Seaweed identification, systematics and evolutionary relationships.

Skills you'll gain

Details to know

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Assessments

26 assignments

Taught in English

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There are 7 modules in this course

This course was produced by the Algae Technology Educational Consortium and UC San Diego with funding from the Algae Foundation, the National Renewable Energy Lab, and the U.S. Department of Energy.

Module details

This section will cover what algae are, how they've evolved, and how they've transformed our planet. We will also go over how humans have used algae throughout history.

What's included

4 videos7 readings3 assignments

4 videosTotal 33 minutes

Welcome to Introduction to Seaweeds2 minutes
An Introduction to Seaweeds8 minutes
What are they?10 minutes
Diversity of Taxa13 minutes

7 readingsTotal 70 minutes

Course Introduction10 minutes
Learning Objectives10 minutes
Additional Reading10 minutes
Learning Objectives10 minutes
Additional Reading10 minutes
Learning Objectives10 minutes
Additional Reading10 minutes

3 assignmentsTotal 90 minutes

Introduction to Seaweeds I30 minutes
Introduction to Seaweeds II30 minutes
Introduction to Seaweeds III30 minutes

Algae are extremely diverse, and in this section you will learn about the three distinct seaweed taxa.

What's included

4 videos8 readings4 assignments

4 videosTotal 34 minutes

Red Seaweeds I9 minutes
Red Seaweeds II6 minutes
Brown Seaweeds9 minutes
Green Seaweeds10 minutes

8 readingsTotal 80 minutes

Learning Objectives10 minutes
Additional Reading10 minutes
Learning Objectives10 minutes
Additional Reading10 minutes
Learning Objectives10 minutes
Additional Reading10 minutes
Learning Objectives10 minutes
Additional Reading10 minutes

4 assignmentsTotal 120 minutes

Red Seaweed Lecture 130 minutes
Red Seaweeed Lecture 230 minutes
Brown Algae30 minutes
Green Algae30 minutes

Seaweeds are found almost everywhere and have complex ecologies. This section covers the basics of seaweed ecology including some of the organisms they interact with in nature and in industrial settings.

What's included

5 videos10 readings5 assignments

5 videosTotal 61 minutes

Seaweed Ecosystem Services 12 minutes
Seaweeds and Blue Carbon 10 minutes
Seaweeds and Methane Mitigation 10 minutes
Kelp Forest Ecology15 minutes
Coral Reef Ecology14 minutes

10 readingsTotal 100 minutes

Learning Objectives10 minutes
Additional Reading10 minutes
Learning Objectives10 minutes
Additional Reading10 minutes
Learning Objectives10 minutes
Additional Reading10 minutes
Learning Objectives10 minutes
Additional Reading10 minutes
Learning Objectives10 minutes
Additional Reading10 minutes

5 assignmentsTotal 150 minutes

Seaweed and Ecosystem Services30 minutes
Seaweeds and Blue Carbon30 minutes
Seaweeds and Methane Mitigation30 minutes
Kelp Forest Ecology30 minutes
Coral Reef Algal Ecology30 minutes

This week includes techniques for the cultivation and marine agronomy of seaweeds including open water and tank cultivation.

What's included

6 videos12 readings6 assignments

6 videosTotal 81 minutes

Emerging Opportunities for Seaweed Aquaculture 8 minutes
Seaweed Farming in Controlled Environments15 minutes
Sustainability 13 minutes
Nori Farming, Processing, and Future 17 minutes
Kelp Farming , Greenwave 14 minutes
Eucheuma and Kappaphycus farming13 minutes

12 readingsTotal 120 minutes

Learning Objectives10 minutes
Additional Reading10 minutes
Learning Objectives10 minutes
Additional Reading10 minutes
Learning Objectives10 minutes
Additional Reading10 minutes
Learning Objective10 minutes
Additional Reading10 minutes
Learning Objectives10 minutes
Additional Reading10 minutes
Learning Objectives10 minutes
Additional Reading10 minutes

6 assignmentsTotal 180 minutes

Seaweeds Aquaculture 30 minutes
Seaweed Farming in Controlled Environments30 minutes
Seaweed Aquaculture II30 minutes
Nori Farming, Processing and Future30 minutes
Kelp Farming Greenwave30 minutes
Eucheuma and Kappaphycus Farming30 minutes

This section will cover how humans have used seaweed as a medicine, in religion and folklore, and in community events throughout history.

What's included

2 videos4 readings2 assignments

In this section we will examine the important steps of seaweed product development and utilization. From simple foods to fuels and plastics.

What's included

4 videos8 readings4 assignments

4 videosTotal 42 minutes

History of Seaweed as Food11 minutes
Seaweed Biorefinery 10 minutes
Phycocolloids 9 minutes
Fucoidan, Health Benefits and gut health 13 minutes

8 readingsTotal 80 minutes

Learning Objectives10 minutes
Additional Reading10 minutes
Learning Objectives10 minutes
Additional Reading10 minutes
Learning Objectives10 minutes
Additional Reading10 minutes
Learning Objectives10 minutes
Additional Reading10 minutes

4 assignmentsTotal 120 minutes

History of Food Lecture30 minutes
Seaweed Biorefinery Quiz30 minutes
Phycolloid Lecture30 minutes
Fucoidan Lecture30 minutes

In the final week of this course, we will describe modern biotechnology efforts to improve the nature of seaweed cultivars through the use of genetic manipulation and modification.

What's included

2 videos4 readings2 assignments

Instructors

Instructor ratings

(34 ratings)

Ira "Ike" Levine

University of California San Diego

4 Courses50,082 learners

Jennifer Smith

University of California San Diego

1 Course5,077 learners

Offered by

University of California San Diego

Learner reviews

5 stars
81.81%
4 stars
12.98%
3 stars
3.89%
2 stars
1.29%
1 star
0%

Showing 3 of 77

Reviewed on Nov 24, 2024

This course was very interesting. It did not get 5 stars as there were far too many typos in the slides and the transcript made little sense at times.

Reviewed on May 3, 2023

The course is well presented and very helpful specially to my current project.

Reviewed on Jul 13, 2025

I found the Introduction to seaweeds to be extremely informative and genuinely enjoyed learning process. Look forward to applying what I learned in my sargassum fertilizer business

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