Daniel G. Nocera
Professor of Energy and of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge
Harnessing the Sun and Oceans To Meet the World's Energy Demands
Daniel G. Nocera is the Henry Dreyfus Professor of Energy at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, director of the Solar Revolutions Project, and director of the Eni Solar Frontiers Center at MIT. His group pioneered studies of the basic mechanisms of energy conversion in biology and chemistry. His duplicated the solar fuels process of photosynthesis outside of the leaf—the splitting of water to hydrogen and oxygen using light from neutral water, at atmospheric pressure and room temperature. This science discovery provides a mechanism for solar storage as a fuel. Nocera is a frequent guest on television and radio. His 2006 NOVA show was nominated for an Emmy Award. He worked with Robert Krulwich of ABC News to develop the pilot that was used to launch the new PBS NOVA show, ScienceNow. He also helped develop a five-part series on The Lifestyle of Carbon, which is being distributed by National Geographic. Nocera sits on several advisory boards, has worked with the president's of several universities to set-up energy initiatives, and is working with several artists, actors, producers, and major business leaders in the United States to help them develop a position that contributes positively to the energy and sustainability challenge confronting this planet.