Sea Lab

Seaweed farming is an innovative and sustainable practice with the power to support environmental conservation, drive economic growth, and enhance community well-being. Beyond its role in food production, seaweed is increasingly used in cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, biofuels, and agriculture. It also plays a vital role in addressing climate change—absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere—and is being trialled as a livestock feed supplement to reduce methane emissions. 

Australia has a deep connection with seaweed: First Nations communities have used it for food, medicine, and cultural practices for thousands of years, while today, Australian researchers and farmers are recognised as global leaders in pioneering seaweed farming. 

In this program, students will step into the role of ocean scientists and seaweed farmers for the day. They will investigate how seaweed is grown and reproduced, carry out water quality testing in marine environments, design and build aquatic monitoring systems for seaweed habitats, and finish by establishing their own seaweed tank ecosystem.