Science Café: Large-Scale Ecosystem Engineering with Algae

Presented by the Sigma Xi, Scientific Research Society in cooperation with the Las Cruces Museum of Nature and Science, with support from the New Mexico Informal Science Education Network (NM ISE Net) and NM EPSCoR, Dr. Lammers will describe various algae-based technologies with a focus on the desert southwest, including algae isolated from acidic hot springs, techniques that dramatically limit water consumption, and extraction of useful bio-chemicals from wet biomass. Learn how algal oils and proteins are opening new business opportunities. This event is free.

Dr. Peter Lammers is an chemistry and biochemistry professor at NMSU and is Technical Director for the Algal Bioenergy Program that includes 8 professors across 4 different colleges. He collaborates on whole genome sequence analysis of symbiotic fungi with the U.S. Department of Energy. Lammers serves as the scientific director of the Genetic Testing Laboratory Inc., an NMSU public/private partnership in DNA-based human identity testing, and he is a co-lead for the Bioalgal Energy component of NM EPSCoR's Energize New Mexico project.

The Science Café program at the Las Cruces Museum of Nature and Science is presented to advance public understanding and use of current science topics.

For more information, contact Kimberly Hanson, 575-522-3120, khanson@las-cruces.org