Conference: Microbial Production of Energy Colloquium to be Held in San Francisco, California From March 10 to 12, 2006

该奖项将为将于2006年3月10日至12日在加州的旧金山弗朗西斯科召开的微生物燃料生产研讨会提供支持。本次研讨会将讨论微生物活动对可持续能源的潜在贡献，这些可持续能源可能会减少对日益减少的化石燃料的需求，并成为未来所需替代能源多样性的一个组成部分。美国微生物学学会（AAM）将召集35-40名了解微生物燃料生产的科学专家，为一份报告开发知识材料，该报告将评估（1）我们知道什么，（2）我们需要知道什么，以及（3）我们需要什么工具才能到达那里。我们需要的不是生物燃料生产的小幅度增加，而是一个巨大的突破，产生更便宜、更可靠的燃料，开始与化石燃料竞争。这样的突破只能来自于处于融合技术前沿的聪明而专注的研究人员的集中努力。研讨会将汇集来自不同领域的代表，以解决有关微生物生产能源的问题。更广泛的影响：以煤、石油和天然气为形式的化石燃料为发展和维持现代世界的技术先进提供了动力。然而，这些资源是有限的，它们的使用对我们的环境产生了重大影响。石油和天然气的短缺预计将在我们或我们的孩子的有生之年发生。为了准备向新能源的过渡，必须探索所有可供保护、补充和替代的替代能源。近年来，氢经济被认为是一种可行的选择。氢的燃烧只产生氧气，因此不会产生温室气体。然而，目前的许多制氢工艺需要电力，通常通过化石燃料消耗或天然气的蒸汽重整来生产。探索微生物代谢的分子方面所需的基础研究也将有助于仿生或生物启发合成催化剂和系统的开发。自然光合作用已经成为光化学电荷分离的有用模型。氢化酶NiFe辅因子和二氮酶还原酶活性位点铁-钼辅因子也已用作金属催化剂设计的原型。虽然研究工作很有希望，但要实现经济应用能力，仍有许多工作要做。本次研讨会将讨论利用微生物发电能源的研究和开发需求。本次研讨会由生物分子系统集群，微生物基因组测序计划和化学部门共同资助。

This award will provide support for a colloquium on microbial biofuel production to be convened San Francisco, California from March 10 to 12, 2006. This colloquium will address the potential contributions of microbial activities to sustainable sources of energy that may reduce the demand for diminishing fossil fuels and become a component of the diversity of alternative sources of energy needed in the future. The American Academy of Microbiology (AAM) will convene a colloquium of 35-40 scientific specialists knowledgeable about microbial biofuel production to develop the intellectual material for a report that will assess (1) what we know, (2) what we need to know, and (3) what tools we need to get there. What is needed are not small incremental increases in biofuel production, but a dramatic breakthrough that will generate cheaper fuels with greater reliability that can begin to compete with fossil fuels. Such breakthroughs will only come from the concentrated efforts of bright and dedicated investigators at the forefront of converging technologies. The colloquium will bring representatives from different fields to address the questions about microbial production of energy. Broader Impact:Fossil fuels, in the form of coal, oil, and natural gas, have provided the power for developing and maintaining the technologically advanced modern world. However, these resources are finite, and their use significantly impacts our environment. Shortages of oil and gas are predicted to occur within our lifetimes or those of our children. To prepare for a transition to new sources of energy, all alternatives for conservation, supplementation, and replacement must be explored. In recent years hydrogen economy is being discussed as a viable option. Burning of hydrogen generates only oxygen and, therefore, produces no greenhouse gases. However, many of the current processes for hydrogen generation require electricity, often produced through fossil fuel consumption or steam reforming of natural gas. The basic research needed to explore the molecular aspects of microbial metabolism will also contribute to development of biomimetic or bio-inspired synthetic catalysts and systems. Natural photosynthesis has already served as a useful model for photochemical charge separation. The hydrogenase NiFe co-factor and the dinitrogenase reductase active site iron-molybdenum co-factor have also served as prototypes for the design of metal catalysts. While research is promising, much work remains to be done to achieve economic application capabilities. This colloquium will discuss research and development needs for using microbes for generation energy sources.This colloquium is funded jointly by the Biomolecular Systems Cluster, the Microbial Genome Sequencing Program and the Chemistry Division.