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UTEX Recognized by the Phycological Society of America for 40 Years of Service

UT-Austin Home to the Largest and Most Diverse Algae Collection in the World

 

"It was a true pleasure for the Phycological Society of America to recognize the UTEX Culture Collection of Algae at its annual meeting in Philadelphia- and quite frankly, the recognition was long overdue. UTEX has long been a valuable resource for the roughly one thousand members of the PSA, not to mention other non-profit and for-profit research and educational organizations. Given the renewed focus on algal products in biotechnology, and their utilization in various forms of basic research, the value of UTEX to the scientific community is quite significant ... Congratulations again on your 40th Anniversary, and a heartfelt thank you from PSA for all that you, other UTEX staff and UTEX curators past and present have provided for the phycological research and education community."

-Dr. Rick Zechman, President of the PSA

 

UTEX Culture Collection of Algae Celebrates 40 Years on the Forty Acres

The University of Texas at Austin is recognized globally as a hub for algae-based research and biotechnology development. Cultures in the UT Collection are used for a wide variety of projects on campus and throughout the world — supporting research needs of world-class scientists, students, national labs, and industry.

Fast Facts About the UTEX Culture Collection of Algae

  • Maintains more than 3,000 strains of algae representing all major groups
  • Approximately 85 percent of the strains are unique and cannot be found anywhere else
  • Continuously funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) since 1976
  • Financially self-supported and funded by NSF, culture sales, and ancilary funds coming from the United States Department of Energy (DOE) and various other sponsored projects
  • Provides educational workshops on the growth and analysis of microalgae
  • Research and development programs include larger-scale cultivation facilities located in the Welch (WEL) greenhouse at UT-Austin and at the Algae Culturing Facility on the Pickle Research Campus (PRC)

Strains in the Collection have been used for:

  • Basic and applied research
  • Biofuels
  • Biofertilizers
  • Biomaterials and the development of specialty chemicals
  • Bioremediation (CO2 mitigation and wastewater treatment)
  • Food, feedstocks, and nutritional supplements
  • Cosmeceuticals
  • Pharmaceuticals
  • And, more

Go green! Learn more about algae on our website: utex.org