State of the Union 2014 Class #5
Environment & Climate Change
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This post describes the fifth session of the Stanford University State of the Union 2014 course, offered in autumn 2014. Details here.
Our distinguished guests for October 21 are:
Steven Chu
From January 2009 until April 2013, Steven Chu served as the 12th United States Secretary of Energy under President Barack Obama. As the longest serving Energy Secretary, he began several initiatives including ARPA-E (Advanced Research Projects Agency–Energy), the Energy Innovation Hubs, and the Clean Energy Ministerial meetings. During his time at the DOE, the deployment of renewable energy in the United States doubled. After his government service, Chu returned to Stanford to become Professor of Physics and Professor of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, where he teaches and continues his Nobel Prize-winning research in biophysics, biomedicine, energy, and energy economics.
Tom Steyer
Tom Steyer is an investor, philanthropist, and advanced energy advocate. He is the president of NextGen Climate, an organization that acts politically to avert climate disaster and preserve American prosperity. Steyer and his wife, Kat Taylor, joined Warren Buffett and other high-wealth Americans in the “Giving Pledge” to donate the majority of their wealth to charitable and nonprofit activities during their lifetimes. Tom and Kat created the Oakland-based One PacificCoast Bank and Foundation, which provides loans and banking services to underserved small businesses, communities, and individuals. He serves on Stanford’s Board of Trustees as Vice-Chair, where he and his wife founded two renewable energy research institutions.
How to Prepare
Suggested readings via Readlists:
