Novozymes
Novozymes is a Denmark based company focused on revamping and revising how many processes take place in order to make them more sustainable. They do this by replacing many of the chemicals necessary for a process with enzymes that can complete the reaction at lower temperatures, milder pHs and with less chemical and more biodegradable waste. For instance, Tide cold water laundry detergent uses Novozymes enzymes to break up stains at lower temperatures, saving money on electricity and reducing a person’s carbon footprint.
Research and Development
I will be spending most of the summer working in the R&D lab with an interesting enzyme known as carbonic anhydrase. This enzyme is present in many different kinds of life. Mammals, for instance, use it to control the pH of their blood by altering the rate of dissolution of carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide is dissolved more readily into the blood of a mammal, causing the pH to drop. When this process takes place, the hemoglobin in the red blood cells releases its oxygen to oxygenate the muscles. We are hoping to use this enzyme as a way of scrubbing carbon dioxide out of exhaust gases from power plants to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Vertical Alignment
I will also be working with Toni Stadelman on some vertically aligned units to span from elementary school through middle school and into high school. It might be as simple as working with teachers to develop SOPs for their labs so that they can be more easily shared. We might look at using a common lab notebook record keeping process across all grade levels. It is a bridge that we will cross when we get to it, but I know that I am excited for the opportunity.