Algae is usually a nuisance. The green slime is unsightly and can cause water quality problems. But one Michigan company is harnessing algae’s potential benefits, including treating wastewater. Current State talks to CEO of Algal Scientific Geoff Horst.
Algae doesn’t have the best reputation. It’s the green scum on your local golf course’s ponds or the toxic bloom that shut down Toledo’s water system last summer. Algae isn’t all bad, though, and one Michigan start-up is using it in some innovative and beneficial ways.
While most people think of algae as a water problem, Algal Scientific actually first got its start designing technology that uses algae to filter wastewater.
Current State talks to CEO Geoff Horst, who was was a PhD student in the Fisheries and Wildlife Department at Michigan State University when he started the biotech company.
This segment is supported by Michigan State University's Knight Center for Environmental Journalism. More news about the Great Lakes environment can be found at GreatLakesEcho.org and on Current State every Tuesday as part of our partnership.
