Physicist Steven Chu Will Give Beckman-Brown Lecture on Tuesday, Sept. 17

Former U.S. Secretary of Energy Steven Chu will give this year’s Beckman-Brown Lecture on Interdisciplinary Science, “The challenges in getting to net-zero GHG emissions,” at 3 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 17 in the Beckman Auditorium. A reception will follow.

Additional information:  go.beckman.illinois.edu/BeckmanBrown.

About Steven Chu: Steven Chu is professor of Physics, Molecular and Cellular Physiology, and Energy Science and Engineering at Stanford University. He received the 1997 Nobel Prize in Physics for laser cooling and trapping of atoms. Other contributions include the first optical tweezers manipulation of biomolecules, precision atom interferometry based on optical pulses of light, and single molecule FRET of biomolecules tethered to surfaces. He is now developing and applying new methods in molecular biology and medical imaging, materials science and batteries. Previously he was U.S. Secretary of Energy, where he began ARPA-E, the Energy Innovation Hubs, and was tasked by President Obama to help BP stop the Macondo Oil spill.

Abstract: Throughout human history, multiple industrial and agricultural revolutions have profoundly transformed the world. However, the unintended consequence of these revolutions is that the greenhouse gas emissions are changing Earth’s climate. Most of our energy sources and many of the materials we use are based on fossil-fuel. The challenges of how to provide clean energy, water, air, and food in a world of more than 8 billion people and likely to grow to 11 billion by 2100 are formidable. After a brief summary of our current trajectory, I will discuss the current progress, opportunities and challenges needed to achieve net-zero greenhouse emissions.