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Researchers are using microalgae to capture sunlight and transform it into renewable fuels, food and clean water.
Ben Hankamer’s ongoing work developing light-driven cell factories to manufacture products like pharmaceuticals and aviation fuels has earned him and his team a place as a finalists for the annual Universities Australia Shaping Australia Awards. The University of Queensland biotechnology team features in the Problem Solver Award category, alongside researchers from Southern Cross University, who are using black soldier fly farming to convert organic and plastic waste into high-protein feed, and University of Wollongong researchers using biodegradable micro-implants that deliver chemotherapy directly into pancreatic tumours.
The Problem Solver is one of three award categories and recognises groundbreaking research that has transformed or could transform Australian lives. The Australian is a mediapartner of the awards.
“Every two hours, we get more sunlight than we need to power an entire economy for a year. We use that sunlight to power the production of a wide range of different things,” Professor Hankamer said.
“Microalgae uses sunlight to capture carbon dioxide and convert it into a wide range of molecules including proteins, sugars, oils, pigments, even pharmaceutical products.”
He said they then partner with industry to scale up advanced algae systems that could be used to generate future medicines to treat diseases such as cancer, and convert carbon dioxide into pigments and biomaterials that can be used in building materials for sustainable housing. Algae can also naturally clean water as it grows by absorbing excess nutrients, decreasing pollution.
“Watching the climate conference, we’re going to need to do two things – reduce CO2 emissions from manufacturers, and increase CO2 uptake and storage so that we bring CO2 levels back down. We do both.”
“One reason it’s important (to be nominated) is we have so little time to deal with climate change; we need to galvanise people’s understanding around these things.”
Another finalist in the Problem Solving category is Peter Timms with his breakthrough chlamydia vaccine for koala populations, some of which are in rapid decline from the disease. Professor Timms at the University of the Sunshine Coast said he and his team had partnered with a manufacturer to make a recently approved vaccine over the next six months.
“The main goal is to reduce disease up to 60 per cent … So we see a reduction in disease of koalas in middle reproductive years that have been vaccinated,” he said. “ It’s not the solution but with all the other programs – vet support processes, stopping destruction of habitat – the whole thing is meant to win the battle.
“Chlamydia is a major threat to koalas … It causes eye disease, causes reproductive tract disease in females and reduces population reproductive levels. Lots of populations are going extinct locally for various reasons, including environment and bush fires; chlamydia can be the tipping factor from getting by to not getting by,” he said.
The Shaping Australia Awards recognise university achievements in solving challenges in three areas of university endeavour: research, teaching or engagement with the community.
Learn more about the finalists at www.shapingaustraliaawards. -com.au/the-finalists
‘We have so little time to deal with climate change; we need to galvanise people’s understanding around these things" Ben Hankamer