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INTRODUCTION
FACULTY EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
EXTERNAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE
POSITIONS OPEN
RESEARCH AREAS
AFFLIATED
PROGRAMS
Photosynthesis Center
Energy Transduction
Mechanisms
Biomolecular
Devices
SUPPORTING LABORATORIES
OTHER LINKS
"Power of Green"
Research Magazine article
About
Jan Ingenhousz
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Project Ingenhousz
Light, Genes and Molecular Machines
Arizona State University is making major long-term investments in interdisciplinary,
collaborative research on light-driven biological and chemical processes
and their applications in sciences and engineering. Capitalizing on its
leading position in photosynthesis and related fields and consistent with
its abundance of solar radiation, Arizona State University is poised to
expand and broaden this area of excellence in a University-wide initiative.
This initiative, entitled Project Ingenhousz, is designed to catalyze interactions
between the basic and applied sciences in this area and to foster collaborations
with industry. Jan Ingenhousz (1730-1799), a Dutch physiologist, was one
of the first scientists to investigate photosynthesis. Jan Ingenhousz demonstrated
that plants take in carbon dioxide and release oxygen when exposed to light.
Applied and basic interdisciplinary research on light-driven reactions
such as photosynthesis and biomimetic reactions holds great promise in at
least two areas. One is the development of novel light-driven technologies,
such as light-responsive molecular-scale electronics (including miniaturized
light-driven computer chips and optical switches), single-molecule optical
probes and light-controlled enzymes. The other is to utilize organisms that
can live and grow on solar energy for bioremediation purposes (cleaning
up water supplies) and for biotechnological production of enzymes and pigments.
Basic and applied research in these areas will contribute to making optimal
use of the virtually limitless supply of solar energy, which is particularly
relevant in view of upcoming limitations in energy and food sources and
of increasing CO2 and pollution levels.
A solid base for the initiative already is present at the University
through the Center for the Study of Early Events of Photosynthesis and through
strengths in individual research groups in the Colleges of Liberal Arts
and Sciences and of Engineering and Applied Sciences. The initiative will
build on this base consistently during the next decade. Initially, three
faculty members will be attracted at a senior rank to add expertise in initiative-related
areas of particular promise, and to aid in the establishment of productive
research collaborations with industry and between colleges. In addition,
several postdoctoral research associates will be attracted for 1-2 year
appointments to help establish collaborative research projects between groups
and with industry. To further catalyze productive ties between the University
and industry in this area, an industry liaison will be recruited.
In the longer term, Project Ingenhousz is expected to lead to even more
extensive funding from federal agencies, foundations, and industry, and
will further consolidate Arizona State University's leadership in this area.
The University is thus filling quite a unique niche, with light-driven processes
studied and applied in a large number of interrelated fields. With light
energy being a uniquely abundant, non-polluting, and safe energy source,
such research and application directions not only make sense because of
our location in the Valley of the Sun, but also represent a sound strategy
for long-term University investments in intellectual and material resources
in this area. Over and above the establishment of leadership in a broad
range of topics associated with light energy, such investments will also
be of primary importance for a broad, interdisciplinary, and goal-oriented
education at the undergraduate, graduate, and postdoctoral levels.
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Created and maintained by Larry.Orr@asu.edu
