20 August 2018, Bangkok – RISC has established a collaboration with Professor Michael S. Strano, the Carbon P. Dubbs Professor of Chemical Engineering at MIT, to convert trees into self-powered, self-repairing streetlights.Prof. Strano is a pioneer of ‘plant nanobionics’, famous for using nanoparticles to give plants new capabilities, such as to glow or to issue alerts on detecting pollution or explosives.After his recent success in turning a watercress shoot into a prototype for a living desk lamp, he will be collaborating with RISC to develop glowing trees at The Forestias, MQDC’s 119-acre green development on the outskirts of Bangkok at Bangna.“Prof. Strano’s work opens up exciting possibilities for further integrating natural ecosystems into human communities,” said RISC’s Chief Advisor, Assoc. Prof. Dr Singh Intrachooto.“Making trees glow might sound like science fiction but it may soon become a reality based on what Prof. Strano has already achieved.”Lighting accounts for about 20% of worldwide energy consumption, so luminous trees could have vast applications with huge environmental benefits.