Red Tides and Bad Fish: Harmful Algae Blooms (HABs)

3 Fridays, June 12 to 26

2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Zoom Virtual Classroom

Tuition: $39

Our Zoom classes are a constant reminder of the existence of lethal microbes. And yet we owe our very existence to microorganisms. Every human breath has contained oxygen produced by marine algae. After kickstarting life as we know it, microalgae then fed us by forming the basis of the food chain. However, when algae “bloom” or are toxic, they too can become lethal microbes. We will study the cute dinoflagellates which cause the infamous “red tides.” We will also study the effects of toxins produced by diatoms; microbes so beautiful they inspired an art form. We will also explore our future relationship with algae as we seek to mitigate climate change.

Victoria Welborn has a passion for learning, teaching, and science. She has spent most of her adult life in libraries, classrooms and labs as a student, teacher, researcher, or facilitator. Victoria spent 30+ years running academic science libraries and information programs. In 2011 she earned a Masters in biological oceanography from UC Santa Cruz, where she studied harmful algae in the Monterey Bay. She has taught OLLI classes on science and science and society.