Synthetic Materials for Artificial Photosynthesis | Fernando Uribe-Romo | TEDxSedona

I want to live in a world where I don’t

I want to live in a world where I don’t have to worry if whether or not there

have to worry if whether or not there

have to worry if whether or not there will be any planet left for our future

will be any planet left for our future

will be any planet left for our future generations if we look at the timeline

generations if we look at the timeline

generations if we look at the timeline of Earth no other species has modified

of Earth no other species has modified

of Earth no other species has modified this landscape the way we have done it

this landscape the way we have done it

this landscape the way we have done it and that is both very exciting and

and that is both very exciting and

and that is both very exciting and worrisome we have achieved the most

worrisome we have achieved the most

worrisome we have achieved the most amazing things as humankind we went to

amazing things as humankind we went to

amazing things as humankind we went to the moon we can orbit around the earth

the moon we can orbit around the earth

the moon we can orbit around the earth we invented computers and created the

we invented computers and created the

we invented computers and created the internet and we made all this possible

internet and we made all this possible

internet and we made all this possible because we are able to understand and

because we are able to understand and

because we are able to understand and manipulate matter at its most

manipulate matter at its most

manipulate matter at its most fundamental forms but it all has come at

fundamental forms but it all has come at

fundamental forms but it all has come at a cost

a cost

a cost currently in the u.s. we obtain most of

currently in the u.s. we obtain most of

currently in the u.s. we obtain most of our energy from burning fossil fuels we

our energy from burning fossil fuels we

our energy from burning fossil fuels we burn oil call a natural gas to produce

burn oil call a natural gas to produce

burn oil call a natural gas to produce electricity to power our houses and our

electricity to power our houses and our

electricity to power our houses and our devices but by doing this we also

devices but by doing this we also

devices but by doing this we also produce a molecule called carbon dioxide

produce a molecule called carbon dioxide

produce a molecule called carbon dioxide we already know that when carbon dioxide

we already know that when carbon dioxide

we already know that when carbon dioxide gets emitted to the air in excess it

gets emitted to the air in excess it

gets emitted to the air in excess it causes global warming but we cannot

causes global warming but we cannot

causes global warming but we cannot obtain any energy from co2 so we just

obtain any energy from co2 so we just

obtain any energy from co2 so we just release it because it is a waste for us

release it because it is a waste for us

release it because it is a waste for us and it is also not a toxic chemical by

and it is also not a toxic chemical by

and it is also not a toxic chemical by itself we can breathe it it actually

itself we can breathe it it actually

itself we can breathe it it actually smells nice and in fact the smell of co2

smells nice and in fact the smell of co2

smells nice and in fact the smell of co2 can be described as freshly baked bread

can be described as freshly baked bread

can be described as freshly baked bread I learned about co2 when I was in

I learned about co2 when I was in

I learned about co2 when I was in elementary school like in Mexico and I

elementary school like in Mexico and I

elementary school like in Mexico and I was always intrigued by a molecule like

was always intrigued by a molecule like

was always intrigued by a molecule like this I was always a very curious boy and

this I was always a very curious boy and

this I was always a very curious boy and locally about the son of an educator my

locally about the son of an educator my

locally about the son of an educator my mother taught elementary school so she

mother taught elementary school so she

mother taught elementary school so she led me a leash on my scientific

led me a leash on my scientific

led me a leash on my scientific curiosity she encouraged me to read so I

curiosity she encouraged me to read so I

curiosity she encouraged me to read so I read about co2 and about dinosaurs and

read about co2 and about dinosaurs and

read about co2 and about dinosaurs and about Carl Sagan and that little pale

about Carl Sagan and that little pale

about Carl Sagan and that little pale blue dot

blue dot

blue dot that is our planet I was also a Boy

that is our planet I was also a Boy

that is our planet I was also a Boy Scout and you may think that I was a

Scout and you may think that I was a

Scout and you may think that I was a nerd and you may think right because

nerd and you may think right because

nerd and you may think right because being a Boy Scout in Mexico was really

being a Boy Scout in Mexico was really

being a Boy Scout in Mexico was really fun I learned about rocks I learned

fun I learned about rocks I learned

fun I learned about rocks I learned about camping I learned that we humans

about camping I learned that we humans

about camping I learned that we humans have a very special relationship with

have a very special relationship with

have a very special relationship with nature and that in the words of Robert

nature and that in the words of Robert

nature and that in the words of Robert baden-powell we must try and leave this

baden-powell we must try and leave this

baden-powell we must try and leave this world a little better than we found it

world a little better than we found it

world a little better than we found it and those words have stayed in my mind

and those words have stayed in my mind

and those words have stayed in my mind ever since I heard them for the first

ever since I heard them for the first

ever since I heard them for the first time when I was 12 because I understood

time when I was 12 because I understood

time when I was 12 because I understood that it is our duty to protect a little

that it is our duty to protect a little

that it is our duty to protect a little pale blue dot because it is our home it

pale blue dot because it is our home it

pale blue dot because it is our home it was also in school when I learn about

was also in school when I learn about

was also in school when I learn about photosynthesis and I hope you like my

photosynthesis and I hope you like my

photosynthesis and I hope you like my semi-technical drying or photosynthesis

semi-technical drying or photosynthesis

semi-technical drying or photosynthesis which is the natural process in which

which is the natural process in which

which is the natural process in which plants take water co2 and use sunlight

plants take water co2 and use sunlight

plants take water co2 and use sunlight to produce oxygen and to remove the co2

to produce oxygen and to remove the co2

to produce oxygen and to remove the co2 from the air we animals breathe it out

from the air we animals breathe it out

from the air we animals breathe it out and plants take it in which gives a

and plants take it in which gives a

and plants take it in which gives a balance that maintains the temperature

balance that maintains the temperature

balance that maintains the temperature of the atmosphere steady making this

of the atmosphere steady making this

of the atmosphere steady making this planet available unfortunately we

planet available unfortunately we

planet available unfortunately we release so much co2 from burning fossil

release so much co2 from burning fossil

release so much co2 from burning fossil fuels that we’ve altered this balance

fuels that we’ve altered this balance

fuels that we’ve altered this balance and right now all the plants on earth

and right now all the plants on earth

and right now all the plants on earth are just not enough to restore the

are just not enough to restore the

are just not enough to restore the levels of co2 to restore this balance so

levels of co2 to restore this balance so

levels of co2 to restore this balance so we created global warming and we are

we created global warming and we are

we created global warming and we are already seeing all the changes that have

already seeing all the changes that have

already seeing all the changes that have been predicted at a global scale like

been predicted at a global scale like

been predicted at a global scale like hurricanes getting stronger every year

hurricanes getting stronger every year

hurricanes getting stronger every year or the disappearance of beaches and

or the disappearance of beaches and

or the disappearance of beaches and Islands from the rise of the sea levels

Islands from the rise of the sea levels

Islands from the rise of the sea levels or the death of very important animals

or the death of very important animals

or the death of very important animals for our food production like starfish or

for our food production like starfish or

for our food production like starfish or bees or coral reefs and I can go on and

bees or coral reefs and I can go on and

bees or coral reefs and I can go on and on but I’m here because I want to give

on but I’m here because I want to give

on but I’m here because I want to give an inspiring talk not a depressing one

an inspiring talk not a depressing one

an inspiring talk not a depressing one now we have made similar mistakes in the

now we have made similar mistakes in the

now we have made similar mistakes in the past we damage the also layer so much

past we damage the also layer so much

past we damage the also layer so much that it also threaten our existence on

that it also threaten our existence on

that it also threaten our existence on earth the difference is that back then

earth the difference is that back then

earth the difference is that back then it was visible the big hole over

it was visible the big hole over

it was visible the big hole over so we got really worried and we did

so we got really worried and we did

so we got really worried and we did something about it we created the

something about it we created the

something about it we created the Montreal Protocol which has been the

Montreal Protocol which has been the

Montreal Protocol which has been the most successful international agreement

most successful international agreement

most successful international agreement that help help reducing the thinning of

that help help reducing the thinning of

that help help reducing the thinning of the ozone layer but we co2 it’s more

the ozone layer but we co2 it’s more

the ozone layer but we co2 it’s more complex we have the Paris agreement but

complex we have the Paris agreement but

complex we have the Paris agreement but we don’t see a hole in the atmosphere

we don’t see a hole in the atmosphere

we don’t see a hole in the atmosphere and we need to produce electricity I

and we need to produce electricity I

and we need to produce electricity I remember growing up seen chimneys with

remember growing up seen chimneys with

remember growing up seen chimneys with smoke coming out all day long and

smoke coming out all day long and

smoke coming out all day long and thinking is there anything that we can

thinking is there anything that we can

thinking is there anything that we can put on top of those chimneys to make

put on top of those chimneys to make

put on top of those chimneys to make those fumes less harmful is there

those fumes less harmful is there

those fumes less harmful is there anything that we could do to turn all

anything that we could do to turn all

anything that we could do to turn all that waste into something useful is

that waste into something useful is

that waste into something useful is there anything that I could do so I

there anything that I could do so I

there anything that I could do so I became a scientist and I learned that

became a scientist and I learned that

became a scientist and I learned that there is something we can do to fight

there is something we can do to fight

there is something we can do to fight the global warming threat that we can

the global warming threat that we can

the global warming threat that we can develop new exciting science that can

develop new exciting science that can

develop new exciting science that can help us to remove the co2 from the air

help us to remove the co2 from the air

help us to remove the co2 from the air then we can make artificial systems that

then we can make artificial systems that

then we can make artificial systems that can emulate the natural process so we

can emulate the natural process so we

can emulate the natural process so we can adapt to global warming and fight it

can adapt to global warming and fight it

can adapt to global warming and fight it I learned that we humans are capable of

I learned that we humans are capable of

I learned that we humans are capable of recreating photosynthesis in the lab

recreating photosynthesis in the lab

recreating photosynthesis in the lab with materials that are entirely made by

with materials that are entirely made by

with materials that are entirely made by us when we came and independent

us when we came and independent

us when we came and independent researcher I learned that I am not the

researcher I learned that I am not the

researcher I learned that I am not the first one to be concerned with this

first one to be concerned with this

first one to be concerned with this scientific challenge that there is an

scientific challenge that there is an

scientific challenge that there is an army of very smart and very talented

army of very smart and very talented

army of very smart and very talented people that are just as worried as I am

people that are just as worried as I am

people that are just as worried as I am and each of these scientists

and each of these scientists

and each of these scientists technologists and engineers has a very

technologists and engineers has a very

technologists and engineers has a very own unique and creative way to pursue

own unique and creative way to pursue

own unique and creative way to pursue artificial photosynthesis and that I had

artificial photosynthesis and that I had

artificial photosynthesis and that I had to learn from them to see it on the

to learn from them to see it on the

to learn from them to see it on the shoulders of these giants as I said

shoulders of these giants as I said

shoulders of these giants as I said Newton once said in order to achieve

Newton once said in order to achieve

Newton once said in order to achieve artificial photosynthesis we first need

artificial photosynthesis we first need

artificial photosynthesis we first need to understand how the natural process

to understand how the natural process

to understand how the natural process occurs which happens in two steps in

occurs which happens in two steps in

occurs which happens in two steps in different parts of the plant a different

different parts of the plant a different

different parts of the plant a different time the first step is called water

time the first step is called water

time the first step is called water splitting in which a plan picks up a

splitting in which a plan picks up a

splitting in which a plan picks up a particle of light which is pure energy

particle of light which is pure energy

particle of light which is pure energy and uses that energy to rip apart two

and uses that energy to rip apart two

and uses that energy to rip apart two molecules of water

molecules of water

molecules of water it produces oxygen and it stores all

it produces oxygen and it stores all

it produces oxygen and it stores all that energy in chemical bonds as

that energy in chemical bonds as

that energy in chemical bonds as chemical energy now to do this most

chemical energy now to do this most

chemical energy now to do this most plants utilize red color and it’s gonna

plants utilize red color and it’s gonna

plants utilize red color and it’s gonna sound weird but that is why we see them

sound weird but that is why we see them

sound weird but that is why we see them green green is a complementary color of

green green is a complementary color of

green green is a complementary color of red and we see the complementary colors

red and we see the complementary colors

red and we see the complementary colors so we want to do is to use more colors

so we want to do is to use more colors

so we want to do is to use more colors of the light that comes from the Sun

of the light that comes from the Sun

of the light that comes from the Sun these are the different types of light

these are the different types of light

these are the different types of light that come from the Sun a little bit more

that come from the Sun a little bit more

that come from the Sun a little bit more than half its visible light which are

than half its visible light which are

than half its visible light which are all the colors of the rainbow combined

all the colors of the rainbow combined

all the colors of the rainbow combined together and is the energy that we want

together and is the energy that we want

together and is the energy that we want to use for artificial photosynthesis

to use for artificial photosynthesis

to use for artificial photosynthesis three percent about three percent is

three percent about three percent is

three percent about three percent is ultraviolet light which has high energy

ultraviolet light which has high energy

ultraviolet light which has high energy and is very damaging for us and most of

and is very damaging for us and most of

and is very damaging for us and most of it it gets filtered by the ozone layer

it it gets filtered by the ozone layer

it it gets filtered by the ozone layer the rest is infrared light which is heat

the rest is infrared light which is heat

the rest is infrared light which is heat account from the Sun and it is the heat

account from the Sun and it is the heat

account from the Sun and it is the heat the co2 gets trapped in the atmosphere

the co2 gets trapped in the atmosphere

the co2 gets trapped in the atmosphere the second step it’s called carbon

the second step it’s called carbon

the second step it’s called carbon fixation in which the plan uses that

fixation in which the plan uses that

fixation in which the plan uses that chemical energy that obtained from water

chemical energy that obtained from water

chemical energy that obtained from water splitting to trap a molecule of co2 and

splitting to trap a molecule of co2 and

splitting to trap a molecule of co2 and to embed it as part of a structure so

to embed it as part of a structure so

to embed it as part of a structure so this process it’s very inefficient to

this process it’s very inefficient to

this process it’s very inefficient to store energy it’s just about 2% but it’s

store energy it’s just about 2% but it’s

store energy it’s just about 2% but it’s just enough to make plants live and to

just enough to make plants live and to

just enough to make plants live and to populate the earth and to remove the co2

populate the earth and to remove the co2

populate the earth and to remove the co2 from the earth now what we want to

from the earth now what we want to

from the earth now what we want to achieve is a material in which we can

achieve is a material in which we can

achieve is a material in which we can combine both steps as a single process

combine both steps as a single process

combine both steps as a single process that we call direct carbon reduction in

that we call direct carbon reduction in

that we call direct carbon reduction in which a material will pick up a particle

which a material will pick up a particle

which a material will pick up a particle of light and transfer all that energy to

of light and transfer all that energy to

of light and transfer all that energy to a molecule of co2 and that co2 can get

a molecule of co2 and that co2 can get

a molecule of co2 and that co2 can get transformed in another chemical that has

transformed in another chemical that has

transformed in another chemical that has more energy that is a fuel that we can

more energy that is a fuel that we can

more energy that is a fuel that we can burn a solar field because it was

burn a solar field because it was

burn a solar field because it was created with energy that came directly

created with energy that came directly

created with energy that came directly from the Sun now there are other many

from the Sun now there are other many

from the Sun now there are other many artificial photosynthesis materials that

artificial photosynthesis materials that

artificial photosynthesis materials that are very efficient the challenge is that

are very efficient the challenge is that

are very efficient the challenge is that required to use very rare and very

required to use very rare and very

required to use very rare and very expensive elements like platinum

expensive elements like platinum

expensive elements like platinum platinum is very rare and one pound of

platinum is very rare and one pound of

platinum is very rare and one pound of platinum cost

platinum cost

platinum cost more than $10,000 which okay I guess

more than $10,000 which okay I guess

more than $10,000 which okay I guess it’s okay for wedding rings or tennis

it’s okay for wedding rings or tennis

it’s okay for wedding rings or tennis bracelets but not to do artificial

bracelets but not to do artificial

bracelets but not to do artificial photosynthesis at the large industrial

photosynthesis at the large industrial

photosynthesis at the large industrial scale so what we try to do in my lab is

scale so what we try to do in my lab is

scale so what we try to do in my lab is we try to make materials that are

we try to make materials that are

we try to make materials that are composed of elements that are more

composed of elements that are more

composed of elements that are more abundant there are much less expensive

abundant there are much less expensive

abundant there are much less expensive and I’ll take our inspiration on why

and I’ll take our inspiration on why

and I’ll take our inspiration on why paint and if there is any artist or a

paint and if there is any artist or a

paint and if there is any artist or a painter in the room you will recognize

painter in the room you will recognize

painter in the room you will recognize this color it’s called titanium white

this color it’s called titanium white

this color it’s called titanium white the pigment in this color it’s a crystal

the pigment in this color it’s a crystal

the pigment in this color it’s a crystal called titanium dioxide and it is a

called titanium dioxide and it is a

called titanium dioxide and it is a material that can perform artificial

material that can perform artificial

material that can perform artificial photosynthesis through direct carbon

photosynthesis through direct carbon

photosynthesis through direct carbon reduction now the challenge is that to

reduction now the challenge is that to

reduction now the challenge is that to do this process

do this process

do this process it requires ultraviolet light which is

it requires ultraviolet light which is

it requires ultraviolet light which is only 3% overcome from the Sun and it’s

only 3% overcome from the Sun and it’s

only 3% overcome from the Sun and it’s also a very slow process so it is also

also a very slow process so it is also

also a very slow process so it is also not economically viable to use this

not economically viable to use this

not economically viable to use this material at a large scale

material at a large scale

material at a large scale however it’s a very inexpensive element

however it’s a very inexpensive element

however it’s a very inexpensive element it’s very abundant one pound of titanium

it’s very abundant one pound of titanium

it’s very abundant one pound of titanium dioxide cost only seven cents and it is

dioxide cost only seven cents and it is

dioxide cost only seven cents and it is literally dirt cheap especially if we

literally dirt cheap especially if we

literally dirt cheap especially if we compare it to platinum so what we do in

compare it to platinum so what we do in

compare it to platinum so what we do in my lab my students and I will put

my lab my students and I will put

my lab my students and I will put together titanium with molecules that

together titanium with molecules that

together titanium with molecules that are able to capture different colors of

are able to capture different colors of

are able to capture different colors of the light and we assemble them into this

the light and we assemble them into this

the light and we assemble them into this type of materials that we call

type of materials that we call

type of materials that we call frameworks there are kind of like tinker

frameworks there are kind of like tinker

frameworks there are kind of like tinker toys but with molecules the form these

toys but with molecules the form these

toys but with molecules the form these beautiful three-dimensional

beautiful three-dimensional

beautiful three-dimensional architectures that has a lot of holes so

architectures that has a lot of holes so

architectures that has a lot of holes so then they co2 can pass through really

then they co2 can pass through really

then they co2 can pass through really fast in reality the material looks like

fast in reality the material looks like

fast in reality the material looks like this is a yellow powder and it is yellow

this is a yellow powder and it is yellow

this is a yellow powder and it is yellow because it’s a source blue light and

because it’s a source blue light and

because it’s a source blue light and yellow is a complementary color of blue

yellow is a complementary color of blue

yellow is a complementary color of blue so we put it in this little bottle we

so we put it in this little bottle we

so we put it in this little bottle we had some chemicals we bubble it with co2

had some chemicals we bubble it with co2

had some chemicals we bubble it with co2 and we put it in these photo react or

and we put it in these photo react or

and we put it in these photo react or the looks like a tanning bed but it’s

the looks like a tanning bed but it’s

the looks like a tanning bed but it’s made out of a leaf blue LEDs we use blue

made out of a leaf blue LEDs we use blue

made out of a leaf blue LEDs we use blue LEDs because they’re very accessible and

LEDs because they’re very accessible and

LEDs because they’re very accessible and they simulate very well different colors

they simulate very well different colors

they simulate very well different colors of the light right so a molecule of co2

of the light right so a molecule of co2

of the light right so a molecule of co2 is passing through the framework

is passing through the framework

is passing through the framework it gets turn for the material picks up a

it gets turn for the material picks up a

it gets turn for the material picks up a particle of light and transfer all that

particle of light and transfer all that

particle of light and transfer all that energy to the co2 and that the co2 gets

energy to the co2 and that the co2 gets

energy to the co2 and that the co2 gets turned into a solar fuel and he leaves

turned into a solar fuel and he leaves

turned into a solar fuel and he leaves the material and what we were able to

the material and what we were able to

the material and what we were able to see in our first study is that we can do

see in our first study is that we can do

see in our first study is that we can do these and rates much faster than

these and rates much faster than

these and rates much faster than titanium dioxide so it is very promising

titanium dioxide so it is very promising

titanium dioxide so it is very promising and we know that we can implement all

and we know that we can implement all

and we know that we can implement all these materials in current technology so

these materials in current technology so

these materials in current technology so modern power plants after they burn fuel

modern power plants after they burn fuel

modern power plants after they burn fuel and produce electricity they had to

and produce electricity they had to

and produce electricity they had to process all the gases because some of

process all the gases because some of

process all the gases because some of them are very polluting so I see you to

them are very polluting so I see you to

them are very polluting so I see you to get also gets purified at the very end

get also gets purified at the very end

get also gets purified at the very end gets either released to the atmosphere

gets either released to the atmosphere

gets either released to the atmosphere or pump on the ground so it is here

or pump on the ground so it is here

or pump on the ground so it is here where income implement artificial

where income implement artificial

where income implement artificial photosynthesis systems because we can

photosynthesis systems because we can

photosynthesis systems because we can turn all that co2 back into a solar

turn all that co2 back into a solar

turn all that co2 back into a solar field so they complete it back onto the

field so they complete it back onto the

field so they complete it back onto the plant and we can achieve two things

plant and we can achieve two things

plant and we can achieve two things first we increase the efficiency of the

first we increase the efficiency of the

first we increase the efficiency of the plant because we can produce more

plant because we can produce more

plant because we can produce more electricity so we can actually make a

electricity so we can actually make a

electricity so we can actually make a profit using artificial photosynthesis

profit using artificial photosynthesis

profit using artificial photosynthesis and second that since we are reducing

and second that since we are reducing

and second that since we are reducing our own carbon we are producing

our own carbon we are producing

our own carbon we are producing electricity without emitting it

electricity without emitting it

electricity without emitting it achieving a carbon neutral process so we

achieving a carbon neutral process so we

achieving a carbon neutral process so we can use artificial photosynthesis to

can use artificial photosynthesis to

can use artificial photosynthesis to produce electricity in a carbon neutral

produce electricity in a carbon neutral

produce electricity in a carbon neutral process that sounds so cool

but of course our materials is not are

but of course our materials is not are not perfect there was a lot of

not perfect there was a lot of

not perfect there was a lot of approbation that we have to do we want

approbation that we have to do we want

approbation that we have to do we want to be able to use more colors of the

to be able to use more colors of the

to be able to use more colors of the light we want to make this a much faster

light we want to make this a much faster

light we want to make this a much faster rate and have higher efficiencies and

rate and have higher efficiencies and

rate and have higher efficiencies and photosynthesis so there are a lot of

photosynthesis so there are a lot of

photosynthesis so there are a lot of experiments to do and we’re really

experiments to do and we’re really

experiments to do and we’re really excited about it but we learn a couple

excited about it but we learn a couple

excited about it but we learn a couple of things we learn how is the machinery

of things we learn how is the machinery

of things we learn how is the machinery of how artificial photosynthesis

of how artificial photosynthesis

of how artificial photosynthesis materials work so we know how to make

materials work so we know how to make

materials work so we know how to make them better we know that we can create

them better we know that we can create

them better we know that we can create new science that can help us to adapt to

new science that can help us to adapt to

new science that can help us to adapt to climate change and then we can fight it

climate change and then we can fight it

climate change and then we can fight it and then we can make a profit we learn

and then we can make a profit we learn

and then we can make a profit we learn also that we can go beyond

also that we can go beyond

also that we can go beyond photosynthesis then we can we frameworks

photosynthesis then we can we frameworks

photosynthesis then we can we frameworks with all the elements of the periodic

with all the elements of the periodic

with all the elements of the periodic table and we can use them to explore new

table and we can use them to explore new

table and we can use them to explore new properties to discover new unknown

properties to discover new unknown

properties to discover new unknown phenomena that we can make atoms and

phenomena that we can make atoms and

phenomena that we can make atoms and molecules organized exactly the way we

molecules organized exactly the way we

molecules organized exactly the way we want them and I know that I am already

want them and I know that I am already

want them and I know that I am already nerding out really hard in here but this

nerding out really hard in here but this

nerding out really hard in here but this is the kind of things that we chemists

is the kind of things that we chemists

is the kind of things that we chemists dream about of course I cannot do any of

dream about of course I cannot do any of

dream about of course I cannot do any of these alone I need to rely on the jungle

these alone I need to rely on the jungle

these alone I need to rely on the jungle generation of people so we need to make

generation of people so we need to make

generation of people so we need to make science and technology more attractive

science and technology more attractive

science and technology more attractive so what we do is that we bring students

so what we do is that we bring students

so what we do is that we bring students to our labs we do science demonstrations

to our labs we do science demonstrations

to our labs we do science demonstrations like we do every year in our stem day

like we do every year in our stem day

like we do every year in our stem day we go to the schools and we organize

we go to the schools and we organize

we go to the schools and we organize activities like the national crystal

activities like the national crystal

activities like the national crystal growing competition that we do every

growing competition that we do every

growing competition that we do every year so the students can do the

year so the students can do the

year so the students can do the experiments themselves so they can

experiments themselves so they can

experiments themselves so they can understand science and see how

understand science and see how

understand science and see how fascinating it is we also need to make

fascinating it is we also need to make

fascinating it is we also need to make science and technology more diverse so

science and technology more diverse so

science and technology more diverse so we work with the Alliance for diversity

we work with the Alliance for diversity

we work with the Alliance for diversity in science and engineering a national

in science and engineering a national

in science and engineering a national nonprofit organization that being

nonprofit organization that being

nonprofit organization that being together students and faculty from all

together students and faculty from all

together students and faculty from all backgrounds because diversity enriches

backgrounds because diversity enriches

backgrounds because diversity enriches us and it is what makes America great we

us and it is what makes America great we

us and it is what makes America great we need to encourage our children to be

need to encourage our children to be

need to encourage our children to be curious to ask questions so they can

curious to ask questions so they can

curious to ask questions so they can become the scientists and the engineers

become the scientists and the engineers

become the scientists and the engineers of the future like my students in my

of the future like my students in my

of the future like my students in my research group they

research group they

research group they the one that are mixing the chemicals

the one that are mixing the chemicals

the one that are mixing the chemicals making the materials and testing the

making the materials and testing the

making the materials and testing the photosynthesis they are the ones who are

photosynthesis they are the ones who are

photosynthesis they are the ones who are going to make the new scientific

going to make the new scientific

going to make the new scientific discovery the new technological

discovery the new technological

discovery the new technological advancement so that with them together

advancement so that with them together

advancement so that with them together we can solve this problem of global

we can solve this problem of global

we can solve this problem of global warming because guess what we need their

warming because guess what we need their

warming because guess what we need their help thank you very much

help thank you very much

help thank you very much [Applause]