“Solar Energy Conversion in Plants”
Bob Cave
Speaker: Bob Cave, Professor of Chemistry, Harvey Mudd College –
Figuring out how to harvest energy from solar radiation is a critical challenge for humanity. As the planet warms and population increases our best (only?) hope for sustainable existence requires that we master this technology. This talk will illustrate lessons we have learned from organisms ranging from bacteria to sequoias, all of which manage to harvest solar energy AND make food for us at the same time!
Professor Cave received a B.Sc. in Chemical Physics from Michigan State University and a Ph. D. in Chemistry from Caltech, where he was a National Science Foundation Fellow. He has been a faculty member at Harvey Mudd College for 31 years, and has received research awards from the National Science Foundation and the American Chemical Society Petroleum Research Fund. He was chosen as a Camille and Henry Dreyfus Scholar for 1994-1999. He has served in two different administrative roles at the college and was also a Program Officer at the National Science Foundation. He is well-known on and off campus as an outstanding lecturer who can explain his research to audiences with diverse backgrounds.
Introduction: Bob Knell
Fellowship: Marilyn Lubarsky
Greeter: Lori McGrath