“Algae is life: A greener future awaits.” | Felipe Caldera | TEDxYouth@ANS

[Applause]

[Applause] by this point most of you are going to

by this point most of you are going to

by this point most of you are going to be extremely tired we have made you

be extremely tired we have made you

be extremely tired we have made you dance we have made you answer questions

dance we have made you answer questions

dance we have made you answer questions and raise your hands but I want to ask

and raise your hands but I want to ask

and raise your hands but I want to ask you one more thing

you one more thing

you one more thing I need you all to repeat three legendary

I need you all to repeat three legendary

I need you all to repeat three legendary words that are extremely important to me

words that are extremely important to me

words that are extremely important to me they’re gonna appear on the board and I

they’re gonna appear on the board and I

they’re gonna appear on the board and I need you to repeat them in the loudest

need you to repeat them in the loudest

need you to repeat them in the loudest way you can let’s start are you ready

Aldi is life perfect thank you so we’re

Aldi is life perfect thank you so we’re to story since I was a little kid I’ve

to story since I was a little kid I’ve

to story since I was a little kid I’ve been blocking out the haters just

been blocking out the haters just

been blocking out the haters just kidding

kidding

kidding I’ve been fascinated with the world we

I’ve been fascinated with the world we

I’ve been fascinated with the world we live in and the why of things this why

live in and the why of things this why

live in and the why of things this why of things had made me keep trying to

of things had made me keep trying to

of things had made me keep trying to understand the world around us and it is

understand the world around us and it is

understand the world around us and it is most likely what brought me here today I

most likely what brought me here today I

most likely what brought me here today I remember years ago as a kid seeing

remember years ago as a kid seeing

remember years ago as a kid seeing footage of the BP oil spill in the Gulf

footage of the BP oil spill in the Gulf

footage of the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico if any of you remember that

of Mexico if any of you remember that

of Mexico if any of you remember that was one of the only things that covered

was one of the only things that covered

was one of the only things that covered the news at that time you would see

the news at that time you would see

the news at that time you would see images like this

as you can see each of these defenseless

as you can see each of these defenseless creatures discovered in thick black

creatures discovered in thick black

creatures discovered in thick black crude oil which makes it unable for them

crude oil which makes it unable for them

crude oil which makes it unable for them to fly and maintain body heat so at that

to fly and maintain body heat so at that

to fly and maintain body heat so at that moment it hit me if oil does so much

moment it hit me if oil does so much

moment it hit me if oil does so much harm to life why don’t we just stop

harm to life why don’t we just stop

harm to life why don’t we just stop using it

using it

using it even as it seems something so obvious

even as it seems something so obvious

even as it seems something so obvious back then I understood that oil is cheap

back then I understood that oil is cheap

back then I understood that oil is cheap and accessible making it the perfect

and accessible making it the perfect

and accessible making it the perfect solution to fuel our addiction to energy

solution to fuel our addiction to energy

solution to fuel our addiction to energy this addiction arms many aspects of our

this addiction arms many aspects of our

this addiction arms many aspects of our daily lives from the polluted air we

daily lives from the polluted air we

daily lives from the polluted air we breathe to the natural disasters caused

breathe to the natural disasters caused

breathe to the natural disasters caused by climate change it was at this moment

by climate change it was at this moment

by climate change it was at this moment that the idea had been implanted and it

that the idea had been implanted and it

that the idea had been implanted and it would start a chain reaction that would

would start a chain reaction that would

would start a chain reaction that would resurface until years later now we come

resurface until years later now we come

resurface until years later now we come to last year I decided I wanted to study

to last year I decided I wanted to study

to last year I decided I wanted to study biological engineering and that’s an

biological engineering and that’s an

biological engineering and that’s an ultimate goal I wanted to change the

ultimate goal I wanted to change the

ultimate goal I wanted to change the world for good to do this every step I

world for good to do this every step I

world for good to do this every step I take would be in service of that

take would be in service of that

take would be in service of that ultimate goal so I decided to find a way

ultimate goal so I decided to find a way

ultimate goal so I decided to find a way to fill my head with ideas and I did it

to fill my head with ideas and I did it

to fill my head with ideas and I did it through an internship I had my

through an internship I had my

through an internship I had my internship and I I thought my head with

internship and I I thought my head with

internship and I I thought my head with all these ideas but sadly through my

all these ideas but sadly through my

all these ideas but sadly through my internship I learned that most of my

internship I learned that most of my

internship I learned that most of my ideas were not possible they were either

ideas were not possible they were either

ideas were not possible they were either already in place not feasible or even

already in place not feasible or even

already in place not feasible or even dangerous to humanity so I burned

dangerous to humanity so I burned

dangerous to humanity so I burned through most of them in a matter of

through most of them in a matter of

through most of them in a matter of weeks with each faith are greater than

weeks with each faith are greater than

weeks with each faith are greater than the last one until I stumbled upon

the last one until I stumbled upon

the last one until I stumbled upon biofuels a relatively unexplored field

biofuels a relatively unexplored field

biofuels a relatively unexplored field that that aligned with my passion some

that that aligned with my passion some

that that aligned with my passion some background about the science since the

background about the science since the

background about the science since the induced revolution we humans had been

induced revolution we humans had been

induced revolution we humans had been making use of fossil fuels to power

making use of fossil fuels to power

making use of fossil fuels to power industries and automobiles but today has

industries and automobiles but today has

industries and automobiles but today has become the center of our lives fueling

become the center of our lives fueling

become the center of our lives fueling this addiction to energy since the 1900s

this addiction to energy since the 1900s

this addiction to energy since the 1900s scientists like hood of diesel this guy

scientists like hood of diesel this guy

scientists like hood of diesel this guy and Nikola August Otto had been making

and Nikola August Otto had been making

and Nikola August Otto had been making steps towards cleaner energies but

steps towards cleaner energies but

steps towards cleaner energies but whereas sadly neither ethanol nor diesel

whereas sadly neither ethanol nor diesel

whereas sadly neither ethanol nor diesel what solved the problem there were a

what solved the problem there were a

what solved the problem there were a huge step toward cleaner energy

so you might be asking what does this

so you might be asking what does this all have to do with me and why this is

all have to do with me and why this is

all have to do with me and why this is with me but I found all G as a potential

with me but I found all G as a potential

with me but I found all G as a potential source of biofuels for those that don’t

source of biofuels for those that don’t

source of biofuels for those that don’t know algae is an aquatic plant that

know algae is an aquatic plant that

know algae is an aquatic plant that ranges from seaweed as you can see here

ranges from seaweed as you can see here

ranges from seaweed as you can see here to tiny green specks that float in the

to tiny green specks that float in the

to tiny green specks that float in the ocean allsey algae is powered by the Sun

ocean allsey algae is powered by the Sun

ocean allsey algae is powered by the Sun and takes in the carbon dioxide from all

and takes in the carbon dioxide from all

and takes in the carbon dioxide from all the cars and factories we live with

the cars and factories we live with

the cars and factories we live with while at the same time it produces

while at the same time it produces

while at the same time it produces oxygen and biomass which is as a names

oxygen and biomass which is as a names

oxygen and biomass which is as a names asset biological mass that can later be

asset biological mass that can later be

asset biological mass that can later be used to produce oil so I hope that by

used to produce oil so I hope that by

used to produce oil so I hope that by now you can get it all dee is truly life

now you can get it all dee is truly life

now you can get it all dee is truly life it’s not only that we say that algae is

it’s not only that we say that algae is

it’s not only that we say that algae is life it is literally life in this

life it is literally life in this

life it is literally life in this diagram you’re able to see the whole

diagram you’re able to see the whole

diagram you’re able to see the whole process from the algae taking in the

process from the algae taking in the

process from the algae taking in the sunlight and the carbon dioxide and then

sunlight and the carbon dioxide and then

sunlight and the carbon dioxide and then becoming oxygen and biomass if the algae

becoming oxygen and biomass if the algae

becoming oxygen and biomass if the algae is harvested dried and ground it can be

is harvested dried and ground it can be

is harvested dried and ground it can be used to produce oil as you would from

used to produce oil as you would from

used to produce oil as you would from almond or sunflower seeds

almond or sunflower seeds

almond or sunflower seeds this oil could later be treated to

this oil could later be treated to

this oil could later be treated to become a slimy green substance that is

become a slimy green substance that is

become a slimy green substance that is similar to crude petroleum later in our

similar to crude petroleum later in our

similar to crude petroleum later in our finery this can be used to make diesel

finery this can be used to make diesel

finery this can be used to make diesel diesel I go straight to your car the

diesel I go straight to your car the

diesel I go straight to your car the difference between visa and the algal

difference between visa and the algal

difference between visa and the algal biodiesel the algal biodiesel is

biodiesel the algal biodiesel is

biodiesel the algal biodiesel is completely carbon neutral for those that

completely carbon neutral for those that

completely carbon neutral for those that don’t know carbon neutral means that it

don’t know carbon neutral means that it

don’t know carbon neutral means that it doesn’t release any extra carbon into

doesn’t release any extra carbon into

doesn’t release any extra carbon into the atmosphere making it environmentally

the atmosphere making it environmentally

the atmosphere making it environmentally friendly you might be asking yourselves

friendly you might be asking yourselves

friendly you might be asking yourselves now so what can we do with all this

now so what can we do with all this

now so what can we do with all this information

information

information I want to tell you that for

I want to tell you that for

I want to tell you that for approximately six months I’ve been going

approximately six months I’ve been going

approximately six months I’ve been going all deep below the stairs of my house

all deep below the stairs of my house

all deep below the stairs of my house using a lamp some glassware and an

using a lamp some glassware and an

using a lamp some glassware and an aquarium pump just to show just to learn

aquarium pump just to show just to learn

aquarium pump just to show just to learn about the process and show it can be

about the process and show it can be

about the process and show it can be done with ease this is my lab as you can

done with ease this is my lab as you can

done with ease this is my lab as you can see that’s really my hand for the first

see that’s really my hand for the first

see that’s really my hand for the first month my family must’ve thought I was

month my family must’ve thought I was

month my family must’ve thought I was going crazy since I decided to embark on

going crazy since I decided to embark on

going crazy since I decided to embark on a project I had no idea about and sadly

a project I had no idea about and sadly

a project I had no idea about and sadly I didn’t have any remote idea on how to

I didn’t have any remote idea on how to

I didn’t have any remote idea on how to get the materials but hopefully through

get the materials but hopefully through

get the materials but hopefully through this talk to understand why they’re all

so this is an issue we need to take more

so this is an issue we need to take more seriously we need to move from

seriously we need to move from

seriously we need to move from accessible fossil fuels to a renewable

accessible fossil fuels to a renewable

accessible fossil fuels to a renewable clean source of energy

from women imagine all the international

from women imagine all the international conflict that has been caused tutorial

conflict that has been caused tutorial

conflict that has been caused tutorial due to the fossils of prehistoric man do

due to the fossils of prehistoric man do

due to the fossils of prehistoric man do you know how crazy that sounds if we if

you know how crazy that sounds if we if

you know how crazy that sounds if we if we address a problem and decide upon a

we address a problem and decide upon a

we address a problem and decide upon a solution we dissolve those problems

solution we dissolve those problems

solution we dissolve those problems today the answer could be in

today the answer could be in

today the answer could be in instead of this small bottle of green

instead of this small bottle of green

instead of this small bottle of green liquid that everybody can produce

liquid that everybody can produce

liquid that everybody can produce this is the algae I produced

for a moment imagine all the all the

for a moment imagine all the all the global leaders that have backed regime

global leaders that have backed regime

global leaders that have backed regime after a dream just to have control over

after a dream just to have control over

after a dream just to have control over the oil fields if you don’t think this

the oil fields if you don’t think this

the oil fields if you don’t think this matters think again of how many families

matters think again of how many families

matters think again of how many families live inside war areas

live inside war areas

live inside war areas how many kids like an education due to

how many kids like an education due to

how many kids like an education due to school being bombarded how many how many

school being bombarded how many how many

school being bombarded how many how many civilians have died in a crossfire of

civilians have died in a crossfire of

civilians have died in a crossfire of these battles for if the contents of

these battles for if the contents of

these battles for if the contents of this vial shows how it is possible to

this vial shows how it is possible to

this vial shows how it is possible to grow our own fuel stop international

grow our own fuel stop international

grow our own fuel stop international conflict and fight to save the planet

conflict and fight to save the planet

conflict and fight to save the planet what’s stopping us what’s stopping you

this vial represents all the time and

this vial represents all the time and effort I put into the strategy

effort I put into the strategy

effort I put into the strategy it might seem small to most of you but

it might seem small to most of you but

it might seem small to most of you but it’s a huge steps towards a cleaner

it’s a huge steps towards a cleaner

it’s a huge steps towards a cleaner future due to my lack of interest or

future due to my lack of interest or

future due to my lack of interest or equipment I wasn’t able to create huge

equipment I wasn’t able to create huge

equipment I wasn’t able to create huge bowels of oil but this process I have

bowels of oil but this process I have

bowels of oil but this process I have learned everything about growing ology

learned everything about growing ology

learned everything about growing ology has boosted my intellectual curiosity

has boosted my intellectual curiosity

has boosted my intellectual curiosity and this and it it has made me look for

and this and it it has made me look for

and this and it it has made me look for new solutions

new solutions

new solutions there’s vile represents that there is a

there’s vile represents that there is a

there’s vile represents that there is a cleaner future ahead

through my project I learn every aspect

through my project I learn every aspect of growing ology from keeping alive to

of growing ology from keeping alive to

of growing ology from keeping alive to measuring its growth I hope that one day

measuring its growth I hope that one day

measuring its growth I hope that one day I will be able to continue my project

I will be able to continue my project

I will be able to continue my project with the knowledge and resources to

with the knowledge and resources to

with the knowledge and resources to implement that I make a large-scale

implement that I make a large-scale

implement that I make a large-scale change that changes that way that we as

change that changes that way that we as

change that changes that way that we as a society live

he is Han Solo from the Star Wars saga

he is Han Solo from the Star Wars saga one of my favorite characters and he

one of my favorite characters and he

one of my favorite characters and he said never tell me the odds even in a

said never tell me the odds even in a

said never tell me the odds even in a galaxy far far away they understood the

galaxy far far away they understood the

galaxy far far away they understood the need of persistence that we should have

need of persistence that we should have

need of persistence that we should have and we need to understand we are at the

and we need to understand we are at the

and we need to understand we are at the future we have all heard it every day

future we have all heard it every day

future we have all heard it every day and it’s true we are the future that is

and it’s true we are the future that is

and it’s true we are the future that is always coming and we need the persistent

always coming and we need the persistent

always coming and we need the persistent that Han Solo was talking about I once

that Han Solo was talking about I once

that Han Solo was talking about I once heard that we were born too late to

heard that we were born too late to

heard that we were born too late to explore the world and too early to

explore the world and too early to

explore the world and too early to explore the universe and whereas it

explore the universe and whereas it

explore the universe and whereas it could be true the generations ahead of

could be true the generations ahead of

could be true the generations ahead of us will say that we were born too late

us will say that we were born too late

us will say that we were born too late or the world but if we choose will be

or the world but if we choose will be

or the world but if we choose will be those who change the world for good

those who change the world for good

those who change the world for good thank you

thank you

thank you and remember biologically literally and

and remember biologically literally and

and remember biologically literally and humanely Aldi is life

humanely Aldi is life

humanely Aldi is life [Applause]