Algae Training Workshop 2015

Techniques in Culture and Characterization of Microalgae

11 13 November 2015

Jointly organized by the Institute of Ocean and Earth Sciences (IOES) and the Institute of
Biological Sciences, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur.
Algae are the most important and abundant group of global primary producers that thrive in almost all
habitats around the world. They represent a rich and diverse genetic resource, and interest in their
biotechnology potential has increased greatly. Algae biotechnology, has assumed an increasingly
important role in todays world of energy and food crises amidst a changing climate. Such growing
global relevance has provided the impetus to the development of our own seaweed industry, and the
establishment of an algal biofuel industry in Malaysia. Algae have traditionally been used as sources of
food, feed, medicine and industrial materials. Microalgae are now seen as potential sources of biofuel,
biopharmaceuticals, cosmeceuticals and industrial biomaterials. The potential of vibrant, sustainable
industries based on the indigenous algal resources may be realized through the creation of new innovative
technologies to overcome existing challenges, especially those related to selection of best strains,
appropriate mass production systems, and economically viable harvesting and processing methods.
There are 160,000 to 1,200,000 species of algae of which only 36,000 to 43,000 species have been
described. 14% (5000 species) of described species are maintained in the worlds 20 major culture
collections: SAG (Gottingen), CCMP (Bigelow), CSIRO (Hobart), NIES (Tsukuba). Many species are
yet to be discovered in the Asia-Oceania region and the Polar regions. Algae Collections serve
Biotechnology by providing authentic strains for research and applications in food, feed, medicine, energy
and environmental management. Culture Collections can provide services like producing mass cultures
on demand, providing DNA sequences, natural product screening, identification of useful biomolecules
and their associated genes, etc. Bar-coding of strains will assist in rapid & accurate species
identification, access to databases of useful bioproducts & protection against biopiracy.
The University of Malaya Algae Culture Collection (UMACC) is recognized as a member of the World
Federation of Culture Collections (WFCC) and a member of the Asia-Oceania Algae Culture Collection
(AOAC) Network. The UMACC collection has been sourced from the Malaysian tropical habitats as well
as from the Arctic, Sub-Arctic, Antarctic and Sub-Antarctic regions. The UMACC has supported several
research programmes in the university as well as of our collaborators. The experience gathered from
these activities are now used to offer training to scientists from both academia, research organisations and
the industry, in techniques essential for successful utilization of the microalgae.
Home-grown experts familiar with tropical algae, as well as scientists from world recognized laboratories
overseas, will be the instructors. The training workshop comprises lectures and laboratory sessions.

Programme
Day 1
0900
0930
1000
1030
1100
1145
1230
1400
1600
1615
1700

OPENING CEREMONY
Diversity and Applications of Algae (Prof. Dr. Phang Siew Moi, UM)
Ecology of Algae (TBC)
TEA
Isolation, purification of microalgae, and the setting up of a culture collection (Prof. Dr. Phang
Siew Moi, UM)
Algal Biochemistry (Prof. Dr. Chu Wan Loy, IMU)
LUNCH
Practical: Techniques in Isolation and Purification of Microalgae (Dr. Teoh Ming Li, Taylors
Univ.; Dr. Wong Chiew Yen, IMU; Dr. Emienour M. Mustafa, UM)
TEA
Techniques in Biochemical Characterization of Algae (Dr. Wong Chiew Yen, IMU)
Molecular Identification of Algae (Assoc. Prof. Dr. Lim Phaik Eem)

Day 2
0900
0945
1030
1045
1230
1400
1530
1545
1615

Photosynthesis in Algae (Prof. Dr. John Beardall, Monash Univ.)

Techniques in Measuring Photosynthesis (Prof. Dr. John Beardall)
TEA
Laboratory Session on Photosynthesis: PAM Fluorometry (Prof. John Beardall)
LUNCH
Continue with PAM Fluorometry
TEA
Techniques in Microalgal Mass Cultivation: Physiology (Dr. Teoh Ming Li, Taylors Univ)
Techniques in Microalgal Mass Cultivation: Raceway and Enclosed Photobioreactors
(Dr. Navid Moheimani, Murdoch Univ.)

Day 3
0900
0945
1015
1030
1130
1230
1400
1445
1600

Techniques in Optimization of Biomass and Lipid Productivity (Dr. Navid Moheimani)

Strain Improvement of Algae (Dr. Gan Sook Yee, IMU)
TEA
Techniques in Harmful Algae Bloom (HAB) Monitoring and Mitigation (Assoc. Prof. Dr. Lim Po
Teen, UM)
Molecular Detection of Harmful Microalgae (Dr. Leaw Chui Pin, UM)
LUNCH
Techniques in Advanced Electron Microscopy (Dr. Lim Hong Chang, UTAR)
HAB Laboratory Session (Dr. Leaw Chui Pin, UM)
TEA and CLOSING CEREMONY

Enquiries & Application: Algae Training Workshop 2015

Phone: 03-79674640 (Puan Noor Hayati Mahbob); 03-79676995 (Cik Norshazwana Shariff)
Fax: 03-79676994
Email: admin.ioes@um.edu.my
Closing date: 3 November 2015. Limited to 30 participants.
Fees: RM 800 for universities, research institutions, industry
RM 500 for students.