Big idea suits big technology
DEBORAH SMITH
Associate Professor Thomas Faunce was a solicitor and barrister in the 1980s before studying medicine. He then worked as a doctor while researching his PhD.
An expert in the regulation of health technology, he has also done research in his special interest area of nanotechnology.
The idea for a global artificial photosynthesis project crystallised after he was awarded a Future Fellowship in 2009 to investigate how nanotechnology research could be safely used to address critical public health issues.
''I thought, 'We've got this exciting new technology - nanotechnology - that has potential applications in medicine, in building materials, in food, water purification, renewable energy, weapons and military applications,''' says Faunce, of the college of law and the college of medicine, biology and the environment at the Australian National University.
But with the world population heading towards 9 billion, the planet was suffering from ''too much carbon dioxide, not enough food … and not enough fuel''.
He decided the crucial use for nanotechnology was to develop artificial photosynthesis.
''It solves so many of the problems we're facing,'' says Faunce, who is writing a book on artificial photosynthesis as ''the moral culmination'' of nanotechnology.
He says time is too precious to use nanotechnology on ''silly applications'', such as transparent sunscreens, that won't address problems such as malnutrition and environmental degradation.
''There is no need to waste our effort coming up with better golf clubs, racing bikes, socks that don't smell and washing machines that don't have grime.''
When Faunce met Yang he was heartened to learn Yang believed artificial photosynthesis would be achievable in his lifetime.
''The question became, how can we accelerate the pace of research,'' Faunce says.
So he organised a conference on Lord Howe Island, which aims to foster collaboration and develop funding strategies. It will run from August 14 to 18.
An expert in the regulation of health technology, he has also done research in his special interest area of nanotechnology.
The idea for a global artificial photosynthesis project crystallised after he was awarded a Future Fellowship in 2009 to investigate how nanotechnology research could be safely used to address critical public health issues.
''I thought, 'We've got this exciting new technology - nanotechnology - that has potential applications in medicine, in building materials, in food, water purification, renewable energy, weapons and military applications,''' says Faunce, of the college of law and the college of medicine, biology and the environment at the Australian National University.
But with the world population heading towards 9 billion, the planet was suffering from ''too much carbon dioxide, not enough food … and not enough fuel''.
He decided the crucial use for nanotechnology was to develop artificial photosynthesis.
''It solves so many of the problems we're facing,'' says Faunce, who is writing a book on artificial photosynthesis as ''the moral culmination'' of nanotechnology.
He says time is too precious to use nanotechnology on ''silly applications'', such as transparent sunscreens, that won't address problems such as malnutrition and environmental degradation.
''There is no need to waste our effort coming up with better golf clubs, racing bikes, socks that don't smell and washing machines that don't have grime.''
When Faunce met Yang he was heartened to learn Yang believed artificial photosynthesis would be achievable in his lifetime.
''The question became, how can we accelerate the pace of research,'' Faunce says.
So he organised a conference on Lord Howe Island, which aims to foster collaboration and develop funding strategies. It will run from August 14 to 18.
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