Top 10 Amazing Facts about Steven Chu

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Top 10 Amazing Facts about Steven Chu

Steven Chu was born on 28 February 1948 in St.Louis Missouri, U.S.He was an American physicist who, with Claude Cohen-Tannoudji and William D.Phillips, was awarded the 1997 Nobel prize for physics and their pioneering research in cooling and trapping atoms using laser light. From 2009 to 2013, he served as a secretary of energy in the administration of U.S President Barack Obama.

He is an author of the Encyclopaedia Britannica article on spectroscopy. Steven graduated from the University of Rochester, New York, in 1970 with a B.S in physics and an A.B in mathematics. In 1976, he received a doctorate in physics from the University of California, Berkeley where he was a postdoctoral fellow from 1976 to 1978.

In 1978 he joined the staff at Bell Laboratories, Murray Hill, New Jersey, and became the head of the electronics research department at AT&T Bell Laboratories, Holmdel, New Jersey in 1983. Here are some of the interesting facts about Steven Chu;

1. He won a Nobel Prize

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Steven Chu was a physicist who together with Claude Cohen and William D.Phillips, was awarded the 1997 Nobel Prize for physics and their independent pioneering research in cooling and trapping atoms using Laser Light. They also developed the first atomic trap that held the chilled atoms in place, instead of letting them fall due to gravity.

The Nobel Prize committee mentioned that the technique has proven to be a powerful tool for increasing scientific knowledge about the interaction of light and matter. It has also provided scientists with a greater understanding of the Unit dynamical nature of gases at extremely low temperatures.

2. Steven Chu took an interest in sports

Steven Chu developed an interest in sports and played trombone in the school concert band and also played intramural softball, handball, and tennis which he taught himself by reading a book in 8th grade. He still takes part in sports daily, playing tennis, swimming, and bicycling up and down the hills around Stanford.

He also was a part of a small group of friends who enjoyed frequent Thursday night trips to the Bungalow, a beer and pizza joint on Mt.Hope Avenue. He taught himself how to pole vault using bamboo poles obtained from a local carpet store.

3. He graduated from the University of California, Berkely

After receiving a B.A. in mathematics and a B.S. in physics from the University of Rochester, Steven Chu went on to earn his Ph.D. in physics from the University of California, Berkeley in 1976, under Eugene D.Commins.He was supported by a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship.

4. He was the 2nd Chinese American to become a member of the US Cabinet

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In 2009, Chu was sworn in as the secretary of Energy in the President Barack Obama administration. He is the second Chinese American to be a member of the US cabinet after Elaine Chao and also the first person appointed to the US cabinet after having won a Nobel Prize. His nomination to be secretary of Energy was confirmed by the US Senate on January 20, 2009.

5. He became the chair of the Physics Department at Stanford University

Steven Chu is a professor of physics and professor of Molecular and Cellular Physiology in the Medical school at Stanford University. He has published over 280 papers in atomic and polymer physics, biophysics, biology,bio-imaging, batteries, and other energy technologies making him the chair of the physics department. He holds 15 patents and an additional 9 patent disclosures or filings since 2015.

6. He received Honorary degrees

Steven Chu was presented with an honorary doctor of humane letters degree by Umass Lowell University Chancellor Jacquie Moloney. His commitment to tackling the world’s energy and climate change challenges is something the Umass Lowell community strives to imitate.

Today, his presence on campus reinforces to the faculty researchers the importance of work they are conducting to help create a sustainable society and also demonstrates to the students that they can make a difference. In 2010, Diablo Magazine honored Dr.Chu with one of its annual Eco Awards. Harvard University awarded him an honorary doctorate and he was also awarded an honorary degree from Yale University.

7. He is an advocate for more research in renewable energy sources

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Steven Chu who won the 1997 Nobel Prize in physics for his research in cooling and trapping atoms was made the secretary of energy in the US administration. Chu who now works as a professor of physics at Stanford University addressed his student’s emphasis on the role of clean energy in combating global climate change.

His idea of a new legacy of sustainable energy included generating clean energy through solar and wind power, which helps reduce energy consumption by improving the efficiency of electric appliances, raising mileage standards for vehicles, and improving the efficiency of both residential and commercial buildings.

8. Steven Chu introduced the making of lighter colored roofs

Steven Chu, the US secretary of energy said that making roof pavements white or light colored would help to reduce global warming by both conserving energy and reflecting sunlight back into the space. According to Chu, this could have an impact on the amount of energy used to keep buildings comfortable as well as offsetting global warming by increasing the reflectivity of the Earth.

9. He never spoke in Chinese

Steven Chu, a Chinese American was born in St.Louis Missouri. He comes from a family of scholars with his father having earned an advanced chemical engineering degree at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and taught at Washington University in St.Louis and Brooklyn Polytechnic Institute whereas, his mother studied Economics.

His older brother Gilbert Chu is a Professor and researcher of biochemistry and medicine at Stanford University while his younger brother, Morgan Chu, is a partner and the former co-managing partner at the law firm Irell and Manella LLP. According to the Chu, he never got a chance to learn Chinese as his parents and family spoke to him in English. Although in 1997 he tried to learn Mandarin, believing if he could stay for at least 6 months, he would become fluent.

10. Chu got married to British American physicist

In 1997, Steven Chu married Jean Fetter who is a British-American and Oxford-trained physicist. Steven Chu is blessed with two sons, Geoffrey and Michael from his previous marriage with Lisa Chu-Thielbar.

Steven Chu won a Nobel Prize in 1997 for physics and research in cooling and trapping atoms using laser light. He also received several honorary degrees and is well known for his research at the University of California, Bell Laboratories, and Stanford University. In 2009, Chu was sworn in as secretary of energy in the President Barack Obama administration.