Biosciences Area

  • About Biosciences
    • Leadership
    • Area Operations Centers
    • Strategic Plan and Reports
    • Strategic Programs Development Group
    • Contact Information
  • Our Science
    • Area Programs
    • Strategic Initiatives
    • Biological Systems and Engineering
    • Environmental Genomics and Systems Biology
    • Molecular Biophysics and Integrated Bioimaging
    • DOE Joint Genome Institute
  • Media and Events
    • News
    • Announcements
    • Behind the Breakthroughs
    • Events Calendar
    • Seminar Series
  • Staff Resources
    • Commonly Used Acronyms
    • Communications
    • Hiring and Recruitment
    • Hybrid & Telework Resources
    • IDEA
    • Intellectual Property, Industry Engagement, and Entrepreneurship
    • LDRD Information
    • Logos and Templates
    • Mentoring Program
  • Search

The Wild World of Microbe-Made Products – Skis Now Included

January 9, 2020

This winter, you can carve the fresh powder of the backcountry on a pair of high-performance skis made from a material produced by microscopic algae.

The skis, made by Bay Area biotech company Checkerspot, are a new addition to the long list of products currently being made from chemicals and compounds produced by specially engineered microbes – a field known as biomanufacturing. Driven to offer smarter, more sustainable materials, fuels, foods, and medicines, more and more companies are turning to biomanufacturing over traditional methods.

The Department of Energy’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory is playing a key role in this 21st century industrial revolution. A collaboration with the Advanced Biofuels and Bioproducts Process Development Unit (ABPDU) at Berkeley Lab was vital to the development of Checkerspot’s eco-friendly skis, which were made with algae oil. 

“This collaboration is a great example of what we do, which is to act as a bridge between basic science and industry,” said ABPDU research scientist Eric Sundstrom. “Our job is to keep the pipeline of these useful, innovative technologies moving from conception to commercialization.” 

Read more in the Berkeley Lab News Center.

Was this page useful?

Send
like not like

About Biosciences

  • Leadership
  • Area Operations Centers
  • Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accountability (IDEA)
  • Contact

Divisions & User Facility

  • Biological Systems and Engineering
  • Environmental Genomics and Systems Biology
  • Molecular Biophysics and Integrated Bioimaging
  • DOE Joint Genome Institute

Resources

  • A-Z Index
  • Phonebook
  • Logos
  • Acronyms
  • Integrated Safety Management
Questions & Comments
Follow us: Mastodon LinkedIn YouTube