Biofuels have been around for decades, but interest in them has grown considerably in recent years due to climate change. While they have the potential to provide a sustainable and renewable way to power our transportation systems, Dr. Blake Simmons points out that in order to become a viable replacement for fossil fuels, biofuels must also be efficient and affordable at global scales. In his first talk, he provides an overview of the advantages of using biofuels and walks through the biochemical processes required in order to convert biomass into usable fuels. He also discusses the ideal properties for advanced biofuels, the projected markets for these fuels in the coming years, and some of the key challenges associated with optimization of advanced biofuel production.