Year - 2025
Lifetime Achievement for the Advancement of Education for Future Energy Leaders
Prof. Steven Chu
Professor – Stanford University
Steven Chu is a Nobel laureate and former U.S. Secretary of Energy. He is a Professor at Stanford University, focusing on molecular biology and physics to develop sustainable energy solutions. Chu earned degrees in mathematics and physics from the University of Rochester, and a Ph.D. in physics in 1976 from the University of California, Berkeley.
After completing a postdoctoral fellowship at Berkeley, Chu joined Bell Laboratories in 1978 and became head of the Quantum Electronics Research Department in 1983. In 1987, he moved to Stanford University, where he was the Theodore and Frances Geballe Professor of Physics and Applied Physics. In 2004, Chu became the Director of the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. Under his leadership, the laboratory focused on renewable energy research and the development of sustainable energy solutions. After his tenure in public office, Chu returned to academia and is currently the William R. Kenan Jr. Professor of Physics, of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, and of Energy Sciences and Engineering at Stanford University.
Steven Chu’s career exemplifies a commitment to scientific excellence and the application of research to address global challenges, particularly in the realm of energy and environmental sustainability. His tenure at Bell Laboratories was marked by groundbreaking research in atomic physics. His pioneering work in laser cooling and trapping of atoms revolutionised the field, allowing for unprecedented precision in studying atomic and quantum behaviour. Chu’s research not only advanced scientific knowledge but also demonstrated the power of interdisciplinary thinking – an approach he has continued to champion throughout his career.
Chu was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1997 for his pioneering experiments in cooling and trapping atoms using laser light – a technique that allowed atoms to be slowed and confined, facilitating precise studies of their properties.
Professor Chu is a member of numerous distinguished academies, including the U.S. National Academy of Sciences, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the American Philosophical Society, the National Academy of Inventors, and the Pontifical Academy of Sciences. He is also a foreign member of the Royal Society, the Royal Academy of Engineering, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the Korean Academy of Science and Technology, and several other national academies.
A recipient of numerous awards and 35 honorary degrees, Professor Chu’s achievements reflect his exceptional contributions to science and innovation.
In 2009, President Barack Obama appointed Dr. Chu as the 12th U.S. Secretary of Energy, making him the first scientist to hold a Cabinet position. One of Chu’s signature achievements was the establishment of the Advanced Research Projects Agency–Energy (ARPA-E), which supported high-risk, high-reward energy technologies. ARPA-E has since catalysed breakthroughs in energy storage, grid modernisation, and carbon capture technologies.
After stepping down as Secretary of Energy in 2013, Chu returned to Stanford University, where he continues to conduct cutting-edge research in biophysics and sustainable energy solutions. His interdisciplinary approach to science remains a hallmark of his work, influencing new generations of researchers and policymakers.