Steve Koonin
Dr. Steven Kookin is a renowned authority on climate science and energy technologies, and Professor of Information, Operations and Management Sciences at New York University Stern School of Business. He is also the founding partner and director of NYU’s Center for Urban Science and Progress, which focuses research and education on the acquisition, integration, and analysis of big data for big cities. Prior to NYU, he served as Undersecretary for Science in the US Department of Energy under President Obama, where his portfolio included the climate research program and energy technology strategy. Before joining the government, he spent five years as Chief Scientist for BP, where he was a strong advocate for research into renewable energies and alternate fuel sources. Dr. Kookin has also played a central role in establishing the Energy Biosciences Institute at the University of California Berkeley, the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He has also served on numerous advisory committees for the Department of Energy, the National Science Foundation, and the Department of Defense, including the Defense Science Board and the CNO’s Executive Panel.
Steve Koonin Professional Experience / Academic History
Professional Experience
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Professor of Information, Operations and Management Sciences
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Professor of Physics, College of Arts and Sciences
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Under Secretary for Science
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Professor of Theoretical Physics
Academic History
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Ph.D., Theoretical Physics
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B.S., Physics
CALTECH
Dr. Koonin spent almost 30 years as a professor of Theoretical Physics at Caltech.
He served for 9 years as Caltech’s Vice President and Provost, facilitating the research of more than 300 scientists and engineers.
He oversaw the development of the world's largest optical telescope, as well as research in computational science, bioengineering, and the biological science,.
Dr. Kookin was the lead author of the US DOE Strategic Plan and the inaugural DOE Quadrennial Technology Review.
He championed research programs in High Performance Simulation, Exascale Computing, Inertial Fusion Energy, and Greenhouse Gas Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification.
He also provided technical counsel on diverse nuclear security matters.
HONORS & RECOGNITIONS
George Green Prize for Creative Scholarship, Caltech
National Science Foundation Graduate Fellowship
Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Fellowship
Senior U.S. Scientist Award
Ernest Orlando Lawrence Award, Department of Energy
Fellow, American Physical Society
Fellow, American Association of the Advancement of Sciences
AFFILIATIONS