Using the Metaverse, Dr Mara Leite, an astrobiology doctoral researcher at the University of Westminster, gave a presentation from the Moon at COP28, exploring how microalgae can help fight climate change.
The presentation titled, Microalgae: A Green Revolution for Climate Action and Sustainability, was delivered from the Moon within the Metaverse, with Dr Leite’s avatar appropriately dressed in full astronaut gear. The focus of the presentation was how microalgae can offer sustainable solutions for both Earth and space.
Microalgae are microscopic photosynthetic organisms that are often referred to as green factories due to their numerous environmental benefits, including their ability to take in carbon dioxide and sunlight to create biomass, energy and oxygen. They also come in different shapes and sizes and can adapt and thrive in a variety of environments.
During the presentation Dr Leite highlighted that microalgae are a sustainable source of valuable products such as proteins, carbohydrates and lipids, meaning they are crucial for making agriculture and the food industry more sustainable. Not only that, but they also produce antibacterial agents, making them extremely useful to scientists researching in medical and pharmaceutical fields.
She went on to explain that microalgae can also play a role in renewable energy, providing an alternative to fossil fuels, as well as maintaining biodiversity on Earth. They are most significant in the world’s oceans, as they are the base for the marine food chain, acting as a primary source of nutrients for creatures, allowing organisms big and small in the ocean to flourish.
To conclude the talk, Dr Leite looked at how microalgae can be useful in the context of life on Mars. Despite the extreme differences between Earth and Mars, these unique features of microalgae help them thrive on both planets, making them a vital source for human survival.
The Metaverse COP28 talk events were put on by Metavisionaries and the United Arab Emirates Space Agency.
About the presentation Dr Leite said: “Advocating for meaningful actions that can shape our planet's future and humankind's survival on another planet was an impactful experience with a sense of purpose.”
She added: “Presenting for the first time in the Metaverse was a unique and exciting experience since the Metaverse opens new avenues for addressing humanity's most critical challenges with unprecedented levels of creativity that allowed me to give a talk on the Moon.”
Watch the full video on YouTube and find out more about the School of Life Sciences at the University of Westminster.
