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Steven Chu

American physicist, former United States Secretary of Energy, Nobel laureate · United States · Scientists · Born 1948 · age 78

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Steven Chu is an American physicist and former government official. S. secretary of energy. He is currently the William R. Kenan Jr. Professor of Physics and Professor of Molecular and Cellular Physiology at Stanford University.

A life in dates

2014Foreign Member of the Royal SocietyAward2010Honorary Doctor of Yale UniversityAward2009“I called my mother up when they announced the Nobel Prize, waiting until 7 in the morning. She said, “That’s nice - and when are you going to see me next?”In their words16 April 2009NY Times, April 16, 2009

Honorary Doctor of Harvard UniversityAward2008Honorary Doctor of the Peking UniversityAward2007“I'm the least-educated person in my immediate family. My two other brothers have multiple advanced degrees, and I only have one.”In their words2 May 2007Interview by Spencer Michels, The NewsHour, PBS, 2 May 2007

1998Honorary Doctor of the Chinese University of Hong KongAward1997Nobel Prize in PhysicsAward1996Guggenheim FellowshipAward1995Humboldt PrizeAward1994Arthur L. Schawlow Prize in Laser ScienceAwardWilliam F. Meggers AwardAward1991Fellow of the Optical SocietyAward1990Richtmyer Memorial Lecture AwardAward1987Herbert P. Broida PrizeAward1986“The atoms become like a moth, seeking out the region of higher laser intensity.”In their words13 July 1986As quoted by James Gleick in Lasers slow atom for scrutiny, The New York Times, July 13, 1986: Explaining how atoms are cooled.

Fellow of the American Physical SocietyAward1948Born28 February 1948

Also in Deutsch

Photos 5

Chu lecturingChu lecturingChu with his medal as a Pontifical Academician, 2018Chu with his medal as a Pontifical Academician, 2018Chu meeting with Obama, February 5, 2009Chu meeting with Obama, February 5, 2009Chu (right) with IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol (middle) and Oliver Inderwildi (left) at the Oxford Union, 2010Chu (right) with IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol (middle) and Oliver Inderwildi (left) at the Oxford Union, 2010

In their own words 3

,
Steven Chu
,
3 statements, newest first

  1. I called my mother up when they announced the Nobel Prize, waiting until 7 in the morning. She said, “That’s nice - and when are you going to see me next?

    Apr 16, 2009, NY Times, April 16, 2009, Own words

  2. I'm the least-educated person in my immediate family. My two other brothers have multiple advanced degrees, and I only have one.

    May 2, 2007, Interview by Spencer Michels, The NewsHour, PBS, 2 May 2007, Own words

  3. The atoms become like a moth, seeking out the region of higher laser intensity.

    Jul 13, 1986, As quoted by James Gleick in Lasers slow atom for scrutiny, The New York Times, July 13, 1986: Explaining how atoms are cooled., Own words

Wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0

Awards

Foreign Member of the Royal Society2014
Honorary Doctor of Yale University2010
Honorary Doctor of Harvard University2009
Honorary Doctor of the Peking University2008
Wolfgang Paul Lecture1998
Honorary Doctor of the Chinese University of Hong Kong1998
Nobel Prize in Physics1997
Guggenheim Fellowship1996
Humboldt Prize1995
Arthur L. Schawlow Prize in Laser Science1994
William F. Meggers Award1994
King Faisal International Prize in Science1993
Fellow of the Optical Society1991
Richtmyer Memorial Lecture Award1990
Herbert P. Broida Prize1987
Fellow of the American Physical Society1986
Humboldt Research Fellowship
Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science
Honorary Fellow of the Institute of Physics

Family

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About this person

Steven Chu is an American physicist and former government official. He is a Nobel laureate and was the 12th U.S. secretary of energy. He is currently the William R. Kenan Jr. Professor of Physics and Professor of Molecular and Cellular Physiology at Stanford University. He is known for his research at the University of California, Berkeley, and his research at Bell Laboratories and Stanford University regarding the cooling and trapping of atoms with laser light, for which he shared the 1997 Nobel Prize in Physics with Claude Cohen-Tannoudji and William Daniel Phillips.

Country
United States
Category
Scientists
Type
Scientist
Status
living
Dates
Born 1948 · age 78

In common with Steven

Peter HiggsBoth received Honorary Fellow of the Institute of PhysicsAhmed ZewailBoth received Herbert P. Broida PrizeAndre GeimBoth received Honorary Fellow of the Institute of PhysicsTheodor W. HänschBoth received Arthur L. Schawlow Prize in Laser ScienceAnton ZeilingerBoth received Wolfgang Paul LectureRichard E. TaylorBoth received Wolfgang Paul Lecture

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