Inspired by nature: the chemistry that powers our planet

 

June 25, 6:30 PM
Telluride conference center
 
Presented by Jenny Yang
Professor of Chemistry, UC Irvine  

Our planet is powered by the sun. Through photosynthesis, plants use solar energy along with carbon
dioxide from the air and water to form chemical bonds to grow and flourish. We use the fruits of their labor to power
ourselves through food. Our current energy infrastructure also relies on fuel generated from sunlight over millennia, but
the corresponding rapid release of carbon dioxide back into the atmosphere has resulted in increasingly severe climate
effects. We can close the anthropogenic carbon cycle and establish a more sustainable energy system by developing
artificial photosynthetic processes to generate carbon-neutral fuels. Learn more in this article on Telluride Inside & Out.