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Steve Chu: A New Energy Program

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World Affairs Council: Nor Cal

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Steven Chu

As United States Secretary of Energy, Dr. Steven Chu is charged with helping implement President Obama's ambitious agenda to invest in clean energy, 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.

In announcing Dr. Chu's selection, President Obama said, "The future of our economy and national security is inextricably linked to one challenge: energy. Steven has blazed new trails as a scientist, teacher, and administrator, and has recently led the Berkeley National Laboratory in pursuit of new alternative and renewable energies. He is uniquely suited to be our next Secretary of Energy as we make this pursuit a guiding purpose of the Department of Energy, as well as a national mission." Dr. Chu was sworn into office as the 12th Secretary of Energy on January 21, 2009.

Jane Wales

Jane Wales is vice president of philanthropy and society at the Aspen Institute, president and CEO of the World Affairs Council, and founder of the Global Philanthropy Forum. Previously, Wales was a special assistant to President Clinton, senior director of the National Security Council, and associate director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. She also chaired the international security programs at the Carnegie Corporation and the W. Alton Jones Foundation and directed the Project on World Security at the Rockefeller Brothers Fund. Wales is the former national executive director of Physicians for Social Responsibility.

Steven Chu on Biofuels and Climate Change

02 min 54 sec

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Steven Chu discusses different technologies in biofuels that will help the world's energy crisis and climate change.
Steven Chu Says Plants Might Be Ultimate Fuel Solution

03 min 31 sec

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United States Secretary of Energy Steven Chu says engineering technology to mimic energy generation in plants may be the ultimate sustainable fuel solution.
Steven Chu on Climate Change and Its Dangers

03 min 04 sec

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Steven Chu discusses how the broad reaching threats of climate change have yet to resonate with the general public.
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01 hr 00 min 15 sec

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There are 12 comments on this program

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Previous FORAtv comments:

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RMatey

Posted: 04.22.10, 12:50 PM

I don't understand people. Our "progress" and "technology" is a massive overreaction to a minor inconvenience. It takes 1 hr a week to brew all the coffee you can drink at home, instead we have Starbucks. It takes a total of 30minutes of work to bake a weeks worth of bread, instead we have wonderbread. We live in Canada the Cold and haven't had our thermostat above 10c all winter. It just means you snuggle with your husband/wife a little more. We make it sound like light bulbs on all night, a furnace keeping the house at 25c, mass produced food shipped around the world are things you NEED. I maintain that not only don't you need them but they actually negatively impact human health and happiness.

bezzeb

Posted: 03.06.10, 03:33 AM

I really don't appreciate how Chu completely ignored the best way of boosting energy: Switching to electric propulsion rather than chemical. The energy efficiency gains of using electricity to drive our wheels would go so much further than everything he spoke of in this presentation..... Just burn that gasoline in a centralized plant and use an electric car - your mileage will go up by a large factor - and your car will accept any power source that makes electricity. A true level playing field for energy producers. Sheesh.

flash dave

Posted: 11.04.09, 03:34 PM

if climate change is true, then 1.6 billion people having no access to electricity doesn't strike myself to be a problem, perplexing climate change would increase, one could consider the view that we should move to increase the exclusivity to these resources. perhaps prisons should be run with stones and iron. *2 cents*

Calorus

Posted: 11.02.09, 10:23 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by spartacus This video is sponsored by Chevron? Are you effing kidding me? Conflict of interest much!? Chevron Sponsor all of Fora's energy/environment category videos.

Iconoclast

Posted: 11.02.09, 06:23 PM

thanks for the powerpoint slides.

hopewish

Posted: 09.02.09, 05:18 AM

why I can't play the video?

mrb

Posted: 03.19.09, 08:17 AM

I found powerpoint slides for this talk at the following link: http://wacsf.vportal.net/

georgevaccaro

Posted: 01.01.09, 09:20 AM

Interesting presentation and discussion. I have a few comments: 1. Note there was admittedly some disagreement as to whether MMGW is a fact - whether there is a consensus which is constantly trumpeted by the MMGW crowd. 2. They were both pictured with and I assume consuming plastic bottled water while speaking of levying taxes on unproductive or "dangerous to the long term" behaviours. 3. There is no mention of the implications of such taxation on people's lives and more importantly on technological progress and productivity. 4. Their models appear static and don't appear to account for the fact that our system is constantly changing and we are constantly adapting and have been for as long as life has inhabited the Earth. I'm convinced IF MMGW is real, through technology we will face the challenges presented, using tools that are available at the time much more efficiently than trying to drastically cut production and progress - which has other costs that are never mentioned in these types of forums. Very interesting discussion despite my criticisms.

spartacus

Posted: 01.01.09, 03:39 AM

This video is sponsored by Chevron? Are you effing kidding me? Conflict of interest much!?

solaris

Posted: 12.19.08, 08:16 PM

Congratulations to the American people and the Obama team for having elected someone as Steven Chu to lead energy matters. This will put the US on the sci-tech edge. "Lead, follow or get out of the way".

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