Steven Chu shared the 1997 Nobel Prize in Physics for developing methods to cool and trap atoms using laser light. Born in 1948 in St. Louis, his career encompasses significant research at Bell Labs, academic leadership at Stanford University, and government service as the 12th United States Secretary of Energy from 2009 until 2013.
Early Education and Academic Foundation
After graduating from Garden City High School, Chu earned a B.A. in mathematics and a B.S. in physics from the University of Rochester in 1970. He continued his studies at the University of California, Berkeley, where he received his Ph.D. in physics in 1976 under the supervision of Eugene D. Commins.
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Chu worked at Bell Labs, where he and colleagues developed a technique to cool atoms by using six laser beams arranged in three pairs of opposed directions. This method allows for high-precision study of individual atoms and the construction of atomic clocks. These advancements in laser cooling and magneto-optical trapping formed the basis of his Nobel-recognized research.
Contributions at Stanford and Lawrence Berkeley
Joining Stanford University in 1987, Chu served twice as the physics department chair. He co-initiated the Bio-X program for interdisciplinary research. In 2004, he became director of the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. During his tenure, he prioritized research into solar energy and biofuels, spearheading the Helios project to explore renewable energy methods for transportation.
Government Service and Policy Advocacy
Appointed U.S. Secretary of Energy under President Barack Obama, Chu served from 2009 to 2013. He has consistently advocated for increased investment in nuclear power and renewable energy to mitigate climate change. He proposed a global glucose economy, envisioning the transport of energy derived from tropical plants as a sustainable alternative to fossil fuel distribution.
Fast facts
- Born: 1948, St. Louis
- Nobel Prize in Physics: 1997
- U.S. Secretary of Energy: 2009-2013
- Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science
- Compton Medal for Leadership in Physics: 2024
- Member of the National Academy of Sciences
- President of the American Association for the Advancement of Science: 2019
- Current position: Professor at Stanford University
Questions readers ask
What is Steven Chu's current role?
He is the William R. Kenan Jr. Professor of Physics and Professor of Molecular and Cellular Physiology at Stanford University.
What is the focus of his scientific research?
His work has spanned atomic physics, specifically laser cooling and trapping, as well as biological and polymer physics studied at the single-molecule level.
Achievements
- Nobel Prize in Physics — 1997
- Foreign Member of the Royal Society — 2014
- Held posts at Bell Labs, Stanford University and University of California, Berkeley
- Educated at Garden City High School, University of California, Berkeley and University of Rochester
- Fields of research: atomic physics
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