May is Asian American Pacific Islander Month, and LSC celebrates Nobel prize-winning physicist Steven Chu, a former US Secretary of Energy and renewable energy advocate, whose career has taken some unexpected turns.

Steven Chu is a Chinese-American scientist who started his career as a physicist. He won the Nobel prize in physics in 1997 for his work on the manipulation of atoms with laser cooling and trapping techniques. He has worked as a university physics professor, a U.S. government cabinet member, and a climate action advocate.

Chu had an interest in science from the very beginning. He graduated with the highest honors in physics from the University of Rochester, then earned his doctoral degree at the University of California, Berkeley. His doctoral work focused on the manipulation of atoms with laser cooling and trapping techniques, the basis for the development of atomic clocks, and the exploration of quantum mechanics at ultra-low temperatures. This pioneering work earned Chu the Nobel prize in physics. He became a physics professor at Stanford University and UC Berkeley, continuing to push the boundaries in physics and reshape our understanding of the universe.

Chu, a tireless advocate of climate action and renewable energy, was invited to serve as the Secretary of Energy in the Obama administration. In that position, from 2009 to 2013, he was able to promote the development of renewable energy, advance clean energy technologies, and combat climate change. His visionary leadership and emphasis on innovation catalyzed significant progress in areas such as solar power, energy storage, and energy efficiency, laying the groundwork for a more sustainable future.

After his service in government, Chu has continued to shape and influence policy and public discourse through advocacy and advisory roles in academia, industry, and international organizations. His leadership in science, energy innovations, and climate action make him an influential leader on the path forward.

This post was written by Biron Lim, STEM Educator at LSC. He was a chemistry major in college, and worked in the chemical and finance industries. His favorite exhibit at Liberty Science Center is Microbes Rule!

Steven Chu