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. The use of fossil fuels is obviously unsustainable, but it is hard to replace with existing alternatives that can reach the scale of fossil fuel consumption. As a result, there is an urgent need to explore alternatives. This talk will provide an overview of current research concerning the potential of cellulosic biofuels as an approach to production of sustainable fuels.