About Us
The ASU Center for Bioenergy & Photosynthesis (CB&P) carries out frontier multidisciplinary scientific research designed to use biological and biologically-based artificial systems to address societal energy needs in a sustainable manner, with an emphasis on solar energy conversion and bioinspired energy transformation to meet human needs.
The goals of the Center are to:
Conduct Innovative Research:
- explore how photosynthetic organisms store energy and develop similar processes that can be utilized in non-biological systems (artificial photosynthesis)
- discover new energy transfer pathways in microorganisms using metagenomics and other state-of-the-art techniques
- metabolically manipulate and engineer organisms for bioenergy production, including hydrogen, ethanol, and bio-diesel
- develop the design and optimization of bioreactors and production processes for bioenergy production
- examine the nature and role of photosynthetic organisms on environmental processes, climate, and human activities
Apply Solutions and Make an Impact:
- investigate the societal implications of bioenergy use and inform the general public about photosynthesis and the transition to the post-petroleum world
- work closely with our partners to develop sustainable solutions to other problems such as developing small solar energy collection/storage devices to deliver electricity to the two billion poor that currently are without such service
Connect to the Public:
- communicate our findings to the broader world and engage in extensive education and outreach activities at the K-12, college, community and professional levels, including preparing teaching materials
- conduct workshops, host web sites, stage lectures and organize conferences