[Committee] (no subject)

[M. Kaufmann]

This sounds quite interesting. I'll put it up on the calendar.

Marc

4. Monday 19th February 7:30pm
Bateman Auditorium, Caius
Speaker: Dr Martin Croft, Emmanuel College.

Harnessing the Power of the Planet's Most Successful Energy Conversion
System.

Photosynthetic microorganisms are the most prolific energy conversion
systems on the planet. These microscopic cells harvest solar energy, and
use it to remove over 50 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide from the
atmosphere every year.

Photosynthetic microbes have the potential to be used as 'biological solar
panels', but engineering them to produce a usable, cost effective, source
of energy is an enormous challenge, but one which, if it were to be
achieved, would have a substantial global impact.

In this talk, Dr Croft will discuss how these organisms can be used to
capture sunlight, and convert it into hydrogen, either directly, or via an
external electrical bridge. These microbial cells have the potential to be
incorporated into an integrated, sustainable energy system, which could be
used to simultaneously produce energy whilst at the same time sequester
carbon dioxide.

He will examine the benefits of such integrated systems and discuss what
needs to be done at both scientific and political levels in order to make
such systems competitive in an economically driven society.