Thatcher Root's interests in green chemistry and renewable resources led him to apply his background in catalysis and reaction chemistry to problems relating to processes for conversion of biomass feedstocks to biodiesel or other useful fuel or chemicals. He is presently collaborating with Dan Klingenberg (CBE) and Carl Houtman and C. Tim Scott (USDA Forest Products Laboratory) in an investigation of the rheological and other changes occurring during processing of cellulosic feedstocks. Root is also working with Shannon Stahl (chemistry) to design more efficient and less expensive fuel cells as a carbon-free energy source and energy storage technology.