The study of algae is known as phycology. Phycology is a life science, often seen as a subsection of botany. Algae are extremely important to aquatic ecosystems, as they produce the primary food and oxygen source for all life. They have a big impact on humans as well, as they are some of the biggest producers of oxygen in the world.

Most algae are eukaryotic (has a membrane) organisms that flourish in wet environment. They have no roots, stems, or leaves, and do not flower. Many algae species are single celled, microscopic organisms, though there are multicellular variants. Examples of multicellular algae would be seaweeds, like kelp, as they grow into large sizes. There are also prokaryotic algae, which are also known as blue-green algae (cyanobacteria).

The history of Phycology goes back to the ancient Greeks, Romans, and the Chinese. They would gather certain types for eating, and this would be the earliest known interest into phycology. The scientific study of the plants would not occur until the 18^th century, however. This would start in 1757 with Pehr Osbeck. He would describe and name the first algae to be studied, Fucus maximus (which is now called Ecklonia maxima).

His work would be followed by several other scholars and scientists. Examples of these people would be Dawson Turner and Carl Adolph Agradh, but it would be until the 1800s when J.V. Lamouroux and William Henry Harvey would contribute significant scientific data to phycology. They were the first people to create significant groups for the algae, and Harvey would go on to be known as the father of phycology. This is due to him dividing algae into four major divisions, all of which were based on the pigmentation of the algae.

Towards the end of the 19^th century, phycology would finally become a recognized scientific field. Many scientists would contribute to describing and studying various algae. Interest would spike specifically in 1902, with the release of the publication A Catalogue of the British Marine Algae by Edward Arthur Lionel Batters. This was due to the cultivation of records and extensive mapping of the distribution of algae, as well as developing identification keys had a foundation to stand on and expand from.

Reproduction and development would be the rising topics of interest into the 20^th century. Felix Eugen Fritsch released two volumes of work in 1935 and 1945, which took all information gathered on algae and put them in one place. Then, in the 1950s, Mary W. Parke would lead the development of area checklists, highlighted extensively in "A preliminary check-list of British marine algae", a study she published.

Phycology has a lot of information to be found in it, but it will take time to identify each individual species. Australia alone has over 2,000 species of seaweeds. As scientists uncover more secrets that are ever looming in the ocean, there is a great chance that scientists will find more and more different types of algae and seaweeds. Because of this, it is safe to say that there will be much interest in this topic for generations to come.

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