Synopsis - Chlorophyll Biosynthesis and Technological Applications - page 58

the moon, crossing underwater the polar cap, and communicating wirelessly over
long distances via electromagnetic waves, and (b) that enough biochemical and
molecular biological knowledge has accumulated to render this dream amenable to
experimentation. We believe that the time has come to bioengineer chloroplasts
capable of synthesizing a short chain carbohydrate such as glycerol at rates that
approach the upper theoretical limits of photosynthesis (Rebeiz et al. 2004 ).
Chloroplast bioengineering will be discussed in Chap. 16 .
2.11 Retirement and the Creation of the Rebeiz
Foundation for Basic Research
In 2005 I decided that after 33 years at the University of Illinois it was time to retire
and devote my attention to other undertakings. Thus on June 30, 2005, I officially
retired from the University of Illinois and devoted my attention to the creation of
the Rebeiz Foundation for Basic Research (RFFBR) ( www.vlpbp.org ) (Fig. 2.13 ).
My laboratory, the Laboratory of Plant Biochemistry and Photobiology was imme-
diately converted to the Virtual Laboratory of Plant Biochemistry and Photobiology
(VLPBP). In Addition to its dedication to the promotion of research dealing with
the greening process, the VLPBP website was expanded to become the voice
Fig. 2.13 Headquarters of the Rebeiz Foundation for Basic Research, in Champaign, Illinois