Algae Blooms Takeover!
A first round of design ideas.Copyright 2022 Vanessa Beckett
Algae blooms are a visible phenomenon that affect coastlines and other waterways and can harm local ecosystems. In this activity, students make sense of what causes algae blooms and then design a prototype that helps clean algae blooms. Students work in teams to design a prototype of their choice (for example, a skimmer or filtration system) using common everyday materials. Students make the connection between harmful algae blooms and how they can affect the aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems as well as food chain.
Agricultural and environmental engineers apply their skills and knowledge of math, biology, chemistry, mechanics and physics, and electronics to improve methods of agriculture, human and animal health, and energy production. Some engineers aim to reduce the use of fossil fuels by designing low-impact fuels from plants such as algae. However, all engineers help solve problems when it comes to mitigating the effects of unwanted and adverse changes to local ecosystems.
After this activity, students should be able to:
- Describe the different causes of algae blooms (such as dead organic matter, slow-moving water, runoff of nutrients, extreme weather, light, and/or temperature).
- Evaluate the various effects algae blooms have on the terrestrial and aquatic food chain/web.
- Analyze how the ecosystem(s) are affected by the algae blooms that surround it (terrestrial and aquatic).
- Design and engineer a solution that will remove algae from water.