Grant: Discovery Grants Program - Individual

This proposal focuses on an interdisciplinary approach to the dynamic of active fluids. Active fluid, a self-sustained phase of living matter, has exhibited astonishingly rich physics and promising solicitations in environment and energy applications. In recent years, it has attracted much attention in the physics and engineering disciplines. The applicant's long-term research program is constructed on this new domain of fluid flow. Contrary to the conventional fluid flows where gradients of pressure, velocity and temperature are needed to break equilibrium and drive the flow, in active fluids, cells as microstructural elements of the fluid, convert nutrients into mechanical energy for driving the flow. Therefore, by using their molecular motors microorganisms in active fluids can develop complex spontaneous fluid motions in the absence of external gradients. The long-term goal of this discovery program will be: - Establish foundations of the emerging science of active fluid flow, and support their application and technology transfer for implementation in a sustainable, environmentally resilient economy. - Build a world-class research center for urban resiliency and environmental policy change backed by scientific findings of this program. In short term (next five years), this research focuses on discovering the fundamental laws of active fluids and some emerging engineering applications. The specific objectives include: 1.Discover experimentally and construct models for microorganism diffusion dynamic and colonization in fluid media 2.Discover experimentally and construct models for the effects of fluid flow on the microorganism motility 3.Based on the results of Aims 1 & 2 devise and construct an impactful device for photosynthetic transformation of urban CO2 emissions into value-added chemical components This discovery program provides a world-class large and cross-disciplinary platform composed of several high technology experimental apparatus and numerical benches that allow studying microorganisms in controlled environment. It enhances the cross-disciplinary research synergy at Western University, bolsters Canada's reputation for world leading research and HQP training and creates a world-class research center for urban resiliency and environmental policy change. Aim 3 of this discovery will provide a two-fold solution for positive energy buildings: air depollution and energy saving. Canadian world-class cities can benefit from this technology.