Phil recently attended a Canadian Institute for Advanced Research (CIFAR) Conference in Montreal for the Bio-Inspired Solar Energy project. CIFAR is a private research institution which brings together global leaders through distinct funded programs. Phil served as the recorder for the program as well as a co-chair for one of the sessions.

CIFAR’s program brings together an international team with backgrounds in nanotechnology, chemistry, biology, biological engineering, materials synthesis and more. Together they are able to examine the problem from multiple perspectives, and create a new framework for thinking about the problem that spans multiple disciplines.

The Bio-inspired Solar Energy program looks to photosynthetic organisms for inspiration on how to create solar energy technology. Fellows tackle photon capture and conversion to electrical energy; and fuel catalysis and storage.