Dr. Maria Messner, right, shows Lenoir Community College student Robert Reichstein, left, how many different species of algae vary in morphology. To do that, he is practicing the technique of mounting glass slides and viewing the physical differences under a confocal microscope.

Lenoir Community College is offering a course entitled “The Power of Algae” from 9 a.m. to 12 noon beginning March 14 for eight weeks in room 113 of the Science Building on the Kinston campus. Participants may choose to attend any of the sessions via video conferencing.

“This course is a hands-on, applied course of algae technologies,” said Dr. Maria Messner, LCC Biology and Chemistry instructor. “Students are tasked to propose and execute a project of their choosing. For example, use farm waste to grow feed or fertilizer, grow a seaweed farm in the sound, develop a new seaweed food, cook with algae, use seaweed extract to make cosmetic products, grow aquarium seaweed, etc.”  

Students will receive plenty of feedback, troubleshooting help, and guidance at all steps. “I envision a class in which the group encourages and helps each other along the way.” This course can be used to develop a small business idea, take the steps to receive nitrogen and carbon offsets from the government, or just have fun learning about algae. 

Dr. Messner earned her doctorate in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at Saint Louis University’s School of Medicine in Missouri, and completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the John Wayne Cancer institute at Providence Saint John’s Health Center in Santa Monica, CA, and has lived and studied abroad. 

For more information on the course, contact Dr. Messner at mcmessner74@lenoircc.edu.