Academics in Turkey are committed to exploring how their work can help tackle climate change and make a positive impact on the environment. A Newton-Katip Çelebi Fund partnership with the University of Cambridge meant they could share research to explore the potential of algae!
The catalyst
Professor Berat Haznedaroğlu of the Istanbul Microalgae Biotechnologies Research and Development Center at Boğaziçi University is convinced that algae has a huge part to play in reducing CO2 emissions. His laboratory is exploring how micro-algae which is grown in a laboratory can be used on an industrial scale to combat climate change.
The British Council’s Newton Katip Çelebi Fund connected him with researchers at Cambridge so they could work together to share ground-breaking research.
The spark
The Algal Innovation Centre at the University of Cambridge is a centre of excellence in algae research. Professor Haznedaroğlu worked with the university and he and his students visited the purpose-built micro-algae glasshouse in Cambridge. Researchers from the UK were also able to visit the laboratory in Istanbul to see the work being undertaken by Professor Haznedaroğlu and his team.
There is huge potential to use algae to reduce CO2 emissions. But, the researchers see many more uses for algae. It has been used to create 3D printing filaments, for animal and human food, vitamin supplements, air filters, clothing and even an edible water bottle! And to further address the climate crisis, the laboratory is working with Turkish Airlines to explore whether algae could be used to develop biofuels.
The success
As countries look to reduce carbon emissions they will increasingly look to industry to take responsibility for their emissions so there is a financial incentive to develop sustainable solutions. Working with partners in the same field of research expertise supported Professor Haznedaroğlu and his team in developing potential industrial use of algae. The aim is for the laboratory to become Turkey’s first and most comprehensive research and development centre, working with its research partners to expand the use of algae as part of the solution to the climate crisis.
‘Our different skills and areas of expertise complement each other so we are always learning from each other. We could not do this alone.’ - Professor Berat Haznedaroğlu
The Newton-Katip Çelebi Fund was part of the UK-government funded Newton Fund to strengthen science and innovation research by bringing higher education institutions together to share knowledge. It is partnerships like this, built on our long-term relationships with higher education institutions and governments which enable greater international collaboration and lead to improvements in higher education and research.
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