As United States Secretary of Energy, Dr. Steven Chu is charged with helping implement President Obama's ambitious agenda to drive clean energy innovation, reduce our dependence on foreign oil, address the global climate crisis, and create millions of new jobs.
Dr. Chu is a distinguished scientist and co-winner of the Nobel Prize for Physics (1997). He has devoted his recent scientific career to the search for new solutions to our energy challenges and stopping global climate change - a mission he continues with even greater urgency as Secretary of Energy.
Prior to his appointment, Dr. Chu was the Director of the Department of Energy's Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, where he led the lab in pursuit of alternative and renewable energy technologies. He also taught at the University of California as a Professor of Physics and Professor of Molecular and Cell Biology. Previously, he held positions at Stanford University and AT&T Bell Laboratories.
Dr. Chu's research in atomic physics, quantum electronics, polymer and biophysics includes tests of fundamental theories in physics, the development of methods to laser cool and trap atoms, atom interferometry, the development of the first atomic fountain, and the manipulation and study of polymers and biological systems at the single molecule level. While at Stanford, he helped start Bio-X, a multi-disciplinary initiative that brings together the physical and biological sciences with engineering and medicine.
The holder of 10 patents, Dr. Chu has published nearly 250 scientific and technical papers. He remains active with his research group and has recently published work on general relativity and single molecule biology and biophysics that includes sub-nanometer molecular imaging with optical microscopy, cadherin adhesion, neural vesicle fusion, and nerve growth factor transport. About 30 alumni of his research group have gone on to become professors in their own right and have been recognized by dozens of prizes and awards.
Dr. Chu is a member of the National Academy of Sciences, the American Philosophical Society, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Academia Sinica, the Korean Academy of Sciences and Technology and numerous other civic and professional organizations. He received an A.B. degree in mathematics, a B.S. degree in physics from the University of Rochester, and a Ph.D. in physics from the University of California, Berkeley as well as honorary degrees from 15 universities.
Dr. Chu was born in Saint Louis, Missouri in 1948. He is married to Dr. Jean Chu, who holds a D.Phil. in Physics from Oxford and has served as chief of staff to two Stanford University presidents as well as Dean of Admissions. Secretary Chu has two grown sons, Geoffrey and Michael, by a previous marriage.
Secretary Steven Chu's Posts
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Startup America Policy Challenge: Clean Energy
December 13, 2011 at 8:37 PM EDTThe Startup America Policy Challenge is looking to tap into our greatest resource – the American people – for ideas on how we can accelerate innovation in energy and position the United States to lead in this critical sector.
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What I Heard About Energy Policy through Advise the Advisor
April 22, 2011 at 12:58 PM EDTSecretary of Energy Steven Chu responds to your Advise the Advisor comments on how we should meet President Obama's goal of reducing our imports of oil by one third in a little over a decade.
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We're in the Global Clean Energy Race to Win: Federal Investment in California Solar Energy Plant
April 18, 2011 at 3:57 PM EDTEnergy Secretary Steven Chu talks about the important work the Department of Energy is doing to support American innovators creating clean energy here at home.
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Winning the Biofuel Future
March 7, 2011 at 5:59 PM EDTResearchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory have made a major breakthrough in the development of American-made biofuel. Learn more from Energy Secretary Steven Chu.
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The Energy of Entrepreneurs
February 24, 2011 at 2:59 PM EDTEnergy Secretary Steven Chu encourages entrepreneurs to keep driving the American economy, and to submit feedback on what the government can do to help bring their ideas to market.
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Discover and Deliver: The Big Picture on Energy
January 24, 2011 at 6:41 PM EDTThe Department of Energy has awarded more than $32 billion to promote clean energy and put Americans to work. It has also laid the groundwork to support clean energy technologies.
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Celebrating National Weatherization Day
November 1, 2010 at 4:42 PM EDTThe Recovery Act weatherization program is weatherizing more than 245,000 low-income families' homes and putting thousands back to work.
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Revitalizing American Manufacturing
September 13, 2010 at 5:39 PM EDTSecretary of Energy Steven Chu visits A123 Systems in Michigan as they open largest lithium-ion automotive battery production facility in North America thanks to the Recovery Act.
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From Sand to Solar
July 8, 2010 at 5:28 PM EDTSecretary Chu and Secretary Salazar announce a new plan to turn a former nuclear weapon testing site into a solar technology testing site.
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A Success Story from the Clean Energy Economy
May 7, 2010 at 4:23 PM EDTSecretary of Energy Steven Chu visits the University Center of Excellence in Photovoltaics at Georgia Tech University, a premier site for silicon PV research in the U.S.
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