Dr James Chong is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Biology at the University of York. James is interested in microbes that produce methane. Methanogens are probably some of the most ancient organisms in existence and can be found all over the planet, usually as part of complex microbial communities. Their ability to make methane (a greenhouse gas) can contribute to climate change, but also has potential to be tapped as a renewable energy source, particularly in the recycling of waste materials.