Chris Somerville

Much has been discussed about the consequences of continuing reliance on fossil fuels for more than 85 percent of our energy. The projected effects on climate of relentlessly accelerating combustion of fossil fuels are cause for alarm. And the use of fossil fuels is so obviously unsustainable, and yet so hard to replace with alternatives that can reach the scale of fossil fuel consumption, that there is some urgency to explore alternatives. The Energy Biosciences Institute is an organization that investigates all aspects of the field of energy biosciences – and in particular, the pathway to a cellulosic biofuels-based energy economy. This talk will provide an overview of the international search for sustainable, renewable, affordable and environmentally responsible transportation fuel, and in particular, how the EBI is taking a holistic approach to the challenge.