Microalgae Museum (MiMu): a new platform for interactive algal science and outreach

The Microalgae Museum (MiMu) was a free one-day pop-up event held in the Glasgow Botanic Gardens. The purpose was for algal enthusiasts, scientists, students, artists and entrepreneurs to collaborate and to raise public awareness by celebrating the magnificent world of microalgae. While the concept of MiMu is a museum, the only museum glass present on this day was on the greenhouse walls and the coverslips of a microscope slide. This was a conscious decision when selecting Glasgow Botanic Gardens as a venue. All the displays, visitors, and volunteers were themselves under glass, creating the feeling of being an active part of the exhibition. The focus was on interactivity and direct engagement, with the aim of providing that sense of wonder. This was achieved by showcasing the important roles that algae play in the environment and highlighting their numerous applications. For instance, algae are pivotal in global scale biogeochemical cycles, energy transfer, and oxygen production, while they have huge potential for sustainable production of food, clean water, energy, raw materials and chemical building blocks. Microscopes allowed people to observe living microalgae. Biodesign and engineering were demonstrated through biophotovoltaic cells producing energy, and skin-care products were showcased using an algal–bacterial biofilm. Algal art was displayed as a spiral steel headdress etched with algal designs, and as a scientific abstract written in beautiful medieval script. MiMu provided a forum for phycologists to cross-fertilize ideas and inspire each other. It also fostered research and business development opportunities, and created opportunities for public awareness and engagement, through a fun, in-person event suitable for all ages. Over 300 visitors engaged in the different activities and left inspired by the enthusiasm of the volunteers and the diversity of algae. During post-event meetings, it was agreed among those involved that the MiMu should become a recurring event.