Activity introduces algal biofuels as an emerging (and potentially very productive) renewable energy source. All of the scientific information presented via accompanying PowerPoint presentation and other text appears to be written by the developer; other sources and references need to be supplemented.

Comments from expert scientist:

Scientific strengths:
Very good basic introduction to the science of photosynthesis using algae, including the use of group exercises. Good introduction to the process of biofuel production.

Suggestions:
In the powerpoint and prezi presentations, carbon dioxide (CO2) required for algal photosynthesis is depicted as coming from smokestacks. This is misleading because the CO2 required for photosynthesis would presumably be available (naturally) without the smokestacks (I assume this is a depiction of a power plant smokestack and burning of fuels, fossil or other). Also, in the powerpoint presentation, the smokestack picture has been 'photoshopped' transforming the smoke plume into the letters CO2. While it's a cute use of photoshop, the great majority of smoke visible from a smokestack is condensing water vapor, and not CO2. As a teaching tool for photosynthesis, the smokestack pictures should be removed and replaced with something indicating that the CO2 simply comes from the atmosphere. Another slide could depict the origins the atmospheric CO2.