How does it feel to be awarded the Synergy Award 2023?
“It's a great honour and when I see the previous winners I feel very humbled. Then I ran around the house and just cheered,” says Angela Wulff.
What kind of collaboration are you working on now?
“Oh, first we're starting the fourth season of Algpodden. Then the non-profit association Algcellskapet will be formalised. All in the name of algal education. I am participating in the start-up of Young Enterprise. I have been an advisor to the last round's Swedish Championship winners and European Championship silver medallists GRALG. High school projects are starting, and I help out with that in different schools as well as inspirational lectures “can she, can I”. Recording for the Science Festival is also on the agenda.”
How do you see your work on community outreach?
“I see it as my duty to do everything I can to spread knowledge and the joy of learning to both younger and older generations in this age of ignorance. I want to do my bit in both big and small ways! There is also a little entrepreneur in me. She pushes me to let research ideas be utilised in small businesses.”
What challenges do you see with collaboration?
“Finding enough time! Interacting with schools, the public, industry and politicians takes time. I also want to teach and do research. As researchers, we must be humble and adapt our language, both linguistically and conceptually. It's not always easy, but AI tools can certainly help us in the future. Challenges are fun!”
Award motivation
Angela Wulff is an outstanding researcher and teacher in marine botany with microalgae as a research topic. But in addition to this, Angela has a vision that the research and knowledge she possesses should also be used. In 2014, together with the entrepreneur Sofie Allert, she started the Swedish Algal Factory, where diatoms are grown for various biotechnological applications. They have already developed the basic substance to produce organic skin cream, but an even more exciting project is the development of a component of diatoms that can be used to increase the efficiency of solar cells. Angela also has an extensive popular science activity with many appearances annually in various public contexts, including school visits. Her research in the Arctic and Antarctic is of great interest and is another fascinating part of her business. Recently, Angela together with Ellen Schagerström started a podcast, "Algpodden", to increase public education about algae and clear up some misconceptions. The podcast has become very popular with over 9000 streams. Angela is also a scientific advisor for UF GRALG, where four enthusiastic high school students cultivate microalgae. GRALG won the national competition for young entrepreneurs in May 2024 and will represent Sweden at the European level.
