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{{shortShort description|American physicist and former U.S. Secretary of Energy (born 1948)}}
{{Redirect|Steven Zhu|the musician|Zhu (musician)}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Steven Chu
| honorific_suffix = {{postnom|country=GBR|FREng|ForMemRS|HonFInstP|size=100%}}
| image = Professor Steven Chu ForMemRSin 2024 at Stanford headshot02.jpg
| caption = Chu at his lab in 20142024
| office = 12th [[United States Secretary of Energy]]
| president = [[Barack Obama]]
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| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1948|2|28}}
| birth_place = [[St. Louis, Missouri]], U.S.
| party = [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]<ref>[http://politifact.com/personalities/steven-chu/ Steven Chu's file]. PolitiFact. Retrieved on 2012-02-04.</ref>{{failed verification|date=August 2024}}<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.iwatchnews.org/2012/02/13/8139/four-cabinet-members-willing-help-democratic-super-pacs |title=Fundraising activities are limited, but star power brings in the bucks |access-date=2012-02-15 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120215101019/http://www.iwatchnews.org/2012/02/13/8139/four-cabinet-members-willing-help-democratic-super-pacs |archive-date=2012-02-15}}</ref>
| spouse = Lisa Chu-Thielbar (divorced)<br/>{{marriage|Jean Fetter|1997}}
| children = 2
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| profession = Physicist
| occupation = Politician, writer
| awards = {{Plain list|
* [[King Faisal Prize]] (1993)<br>
* [[Nobel Prize in Physics]] (1997)<br>
* Golden Plate Award (1998)
}}
| website = {{URL|https://profiles.stanford.edu/steve-chu|University website}}
| module = {{Infobox scientist
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|fields = [[Atomic physics]], [[biological physics]], [[polymer physics]]
|workplaces = {{ublist|[[Bell Labs]]|[[Stanford University]]|[[Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory]]}}
|thesis_title = Observation of the forbiddenForbidden magneticMagnetic dipoleDipole transitionTransition 6²P1<sup>2</sup>P<sub>1/2-7²P1</sub>→7<sup>2</sup>P<sub>1/2</sub> in atomicAtomic thalliumThallium
|thesis_url = https://search.proquest.com/docview/302807361
|thesis_year = 1976
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|journal = U.S. News & World Report
|access-date = December 17, 2012
|url = https://www.usnews.com/news/obama/articles/2008/12/30/10-things-you-didnt-know-about-steven-chu }}</ref> is an American physicist and former government official. He is a Nobel laureate and was the 12th [[United States Secretary of Energy|U.S. Secretarysecretary of Energyenergy]]. 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 [[laser cooling|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]].<ref name="Nobel">{{Nobelprize}}</ref>{{Ambiguous|date=May 2023|reason=Did the Nobel Prize winning research occur at all three institutions, or only the latter two (bell/Stanford)?}}
 
Chu served as U.S. Secretary of Energy under the administration of President [[Barack Obama]] from 2009 to 2013. At the time of his appointment as Energy Secretary, Chu was a professor of physics and molecular and cellular biology at the University of California, Berkeley, and the director of the [[Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory]], where his research<ref>{{Cite journal |doi = 10.1364/OL.11.000288 |pmid = 19730608 |title = Observation of a single-beam gradient force optical trap for dielectric particles | journal = Optics Letters |volume = 11 |issue = 5 |page = 288 | year = 1986| last1 = Ashkin | first1 = A. |last2 = Dziedzic |first2 = J. M.| last3 = Bjorkholm | first3 = J. E. |last4 = Chu |first4 = S. |bibcode = 1986OptL...11..288A |citeseerx = 10.1.1.205.4729 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |doi = 10.1103/PhysRevLett.59.2631 |title = Trapping of Neutral Sodium Atoms with Radiation Pressure |journal = Physical Review Letters | volume = 59 |issue = 23 |pages = 2631–2634 |year = 1987 |last1 = Raab |first1 = E. |last2 = Prentiss |first2 = M. |last3 = Cable |first3 = A. | last4 = Chu |first4 = S. |last5 = Pritchard |first5 = D. |pmid = 10035608 |bibcode = 1987PhRvL..59.2631R }}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |doi = 10.1103/PhysRevLett.57.314 |pmid = 10034028 |title = Experimental Observation of Optically Trapped Atoms |journal = Physical Review Letters|volume = 57 |issue = 3|pages = 314–317 |year = 1986 |last1 = Chu |first1 = S. |last2 = Bjorkholm |first2 = J. |last3 = Ashkin |first3 = A.| last4 = Cable |first4 = A. |bibcode = 1986PhRvL..57..314C |doi-access = free }}</ref> was concerned primarily with the study of biological systems at the [[single-molecule experiment|single molecule level]].<ref name="doe_bio">{{cite web |url = https://www.energy.gov/organization/dr_steven_chu.htm |title = Dr. Steven Chu, Secretary of Energy |publisher=[[United States Department of Energy]] |access-date=2009-02-24}}</ref> Chu resigned as energy secretary on April 22, 2013.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/white-house-email-energy-secretary-chu/story?id=14934698|title=White House Email: Energy Secretary Chu Must Go 'As Soon As Possible'|date=2011-11-11|website=ABC News|access-date=2017-07-19}}</ref><ref name="Dixon">{{cite web |last=Dixon |first=Darius |title=Energy Secretary Steven Chu to resign |url = http://www.politico.com/story/2013/02/energy-secretary-steven-chu-to-resign-87073.html?hp=l2 |publisher=[[Politico]] |access-date = 1 February 2013 }}</ref><ref name="washingtonpost.com">{{cite news |last1=Mufson |first1=Stevenson |title=Energy secretary Steven Chu resigns |url = https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/energy-secretary-steven-chu-resigns/2013/02/01/f6253df6-6cb4-11e2-ada0-5ca5fa7ebe79_story.html |newspaper = The Washington Post |access-date = 23 January 2017 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|pmid = 19148062|year = 2009|last1 = Dalton|first1 = R|title = Steven Chu prepares for power|journal = Nature|volume = 457|issue = 7227|pages = 241|doi = 10.1038/457241a|doi-access = free}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|pmid = 17289971|year = 2007|last1 = Service|first1 = R. F.|title = Steven Chu profile. Steering a national lab into the light|journal = Science|volume = 315|issue = 5813|pages = 784|doi = 10.1126/science.315.5813.784|s2cid = 1451679|doi-access = free}}</ref> He returned to Stanford as Professor of Physics and Professor of Molecular & Cellular Physiology.{{citation needed|date=July 2023}}
 
Chu is a vocal advocate for more research into [[renewable energy]] and [[nuclear power]], arguing that a shift away from [[fossil fuel]]s is essential to combating [[climate change]].<ref name="Hebert">{{cite news |url = http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/politics/2008492740_apchuprofile.html |title = Energy secretary pick argues for new fuel sources |author = H. Josef Hebert |agency = Associated Press |date = 2008-12-08 |access-date = 2010-11-09}}</ref><ref name="Tribble">Sarah Jane Tribble, [http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4176/is_20070618/ai_n19308148/pg_4?tag=artBody;col1 'Nuclear: Dark horse energy alternative,'] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130829131703/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4176/is_20070618/ai_n19308148/pg_4?tag=artBody;col1 |date=2013-08-29 }} Oakland Tribune, 2007-06-18.</ref><ref name="Directors">{{cite web |url = http://www.ne.doe.gov/pdfFiles/rpt_SustainableEnergyFuture_Aug2008.pdf |author = Directors of DOE National Laboratories |title = A Sustainable Energy Future: The Essential Role of Nuclear Energy |publisher = Department of Energy |date = August 2008 |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20081230075242/http://www.ne.doe.gov/pdfFiles/rpt_SustainableEnergyFuture_Aug2008.pdf |archive-date = 2008-12-30 }}</ref> He has conceived of a global "glucose economy", a form of a [[low-carbon economy]], in which [[glucose]] from tropical plants is shipped around like [[Petroleum|oil]] is today.<ref name="ontap">{{cite news |url = http://www.tampabay.com/news/perspective/article1020822.ece |access-date = January 10, 2010 |title = A scientist who is on tap, on top |date = July 26, 2009 |publisher = [[St. Petersberg Times]] |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100124115710/http://www.tampabay.com/news/perspective/article1020822.ece |archive-date = January 24, 2010 }}</ref> On February 22, 2019, Chu began a one-year term as president of the [[American Association for the Advancement of Science]].<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.aaas.org/news/nobel-laureate-steven-chu-assumes-term-aaas-president | agency=Reuters | title=Nobel Laureate Steven Chu Assumes Term as AAAS President| date=22 February 2019}}</ref>
 
== Early life and education ==
Chu was born on February 28, 1948, in [[St. Louis, Missouri|St. Louis]], [[Missouri]],<ref name="Eljera">{{cite news |url = http://asianweek.com/102397/cover_story.html |newspaper = [[AsianWeek]] |title = Stanford Professor Steven Chu graduates to the rank of Nobel laureate |author =Bert Eljera |date = 1997-10-23 |access-date = 2008-12-16 |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20081215170744/http://asianweek.com/102397/cover_story.html |archive-date = 2008-12-15 }}</ref> with Chinese ancestry from [[Liuhe, Taicang|Liuhe]], [[Taicang]], China,.<ref>{{cite news |url = http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2009-07/15/content_8432285.htm |publisher=[[ChinaDaily]] |title= Steven Chu: US ready to lead on climate change |author = Brendan John Worrell |date= 2009-07-15 |access-date= 2009-07-15}}</ref> He attended [[Garden City High School (New York)|Garden City High School]] in [[Garden City, New York]].<ref name="Kerr">{{cite news |url= http://www.newsday.com/community/guide/lihistory/ny-century_of_science_dissons,0,7662594.story |title= They Began Here |newspaper= [[Newsday]] |author= Kathleen Kerr |date= 2008-07-16 |access-date= 2008-09-17 |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080609022451/http://www.newsday.com/community/guide/lihistory/ny-century_of_science_dissons,0,7662594.story | archive-date= 2008-06-09 }}</ref> He received both a [[Bachelor of Arts|B.A.]] in [[mathematics]] and a [[Bachelor of Science|B.S.]] in [[physics]] in 1970 from the [[University of Rochester]],<ref>{{cite news |date=December 15, 2008 |title=Rochester Trustee Steven Chu Named Next Energy Secretary |work=University of Rochester |url=http://www.rochester.edu/news/show.php?id=3290}}</ref> and earned his [[Doctor of Philosophy|Ph.D.]] in physics from the [[University of California, Berkeley]], under [[Eugene D. Commins]], in 1976,<ref name="thesis-chu-1976">{{cite thesis |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/302807361/ |title=Observation of the forbidden magnetic dipole transition 6²P1/2-7²P1/2 in atomic thallium |date=1976 |publisher=[[University of California, Berkeley]] |type=Ph.D. |last=Chu |first=Steven |via=[[ProQuest]] |url-access=subscription |oclc=892836151}}</ref> during which he was supported by a [[National Science Foundation]] [[NSF-GRF|Graduate Research Fellowship]].<ref name="NSF-GRF">{{cite web |url = http://nsfgrfp.org/why_apply/fellow_profiles/steven_chu |title = Steven Chu, 1997 Nobel Prize in Physics |publisher = [[NSF-GRF]] |access-date = 2009-01-25 |archive-date = 2008-11-20 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20081120132612/http://nsfgrfp.org/why_apply/fellow_profiles/steven_chu |url-status = dead }}</ref>
 
Chu comes from a family of highly educated [[white collar worker|white collar]] [[professional]]s and scholars. His father, [[Ju-Chin Chu]], earned a [[D.Eng.|doctorate]] in [[chemical engineering]] from [[Massachusetts Institute of Technology|MIT]] and taught at [[Washington University in St. Louis]] and [[Brooklyn Polytechnic Institute]], and his mother studied [[economics]] at MIT. His maternal grandfather, [[Shu-tian Li]], was a [[hydraulic engineer]] who earned a Ph.D. from [[Cornell University]], and was a professor and president of Tianjin University. His mother's uncle, [[Li Shu-hua]], a [[biophysicist]], attended [[University of Paris]] before returning to China.<ref name="Nobel" />
 
Chu's older brother, [[Gilbert Chu]], is a professor of [[biochemistry]] and [[medicine]] at [[Stanford University]]. His younger brother, [[Morgan Chu]], is a [[patent lawyer]] who is the former co-managing partner at the [[law firm]] [[Irell & Manella]].<ref name="Irell&Manella">{{cite web |publisher = [[Irell & Manella|Irell & Manella LLP]] |url = http://www.irell.com/professionals-22.html |title = Morgan Chu |access-date = 2008-12-16 }}</ref> According to Chu, his two brothers and four cousins have four Ph.D.s, three [[Doctor of Medicine|M.D.]]s, and a [[Juris Doctor|J.D.]] among themselves.
 
==Career and research==
[[File:Steven Chu NSF.jpg|thumb|left|Chu lecturing]]
 
After obtaining his doctorate, he remained at Berkeley as a [[postdoctoral researcher]] for two years before joining [[Bell Labs]], where he and his several co-workers carried out his Nobel Prize-winning [[laser cooling]] work. He left Bell Labs and became a professor of physics at [[Stanford University]] in 1987,<ref name="Nobel" /> serving as the chair of its Physicsphysics Departmentdepartment from 1990 to 1993 and from 1999 to 2001. At Stanford, Chu and three others initiated the Bio-X program, which focuses on interdisciplinary research in biology and medicine,<ref name="BioX">{{cite web|url=http://biox.stanford.edu/about/index.html|title=About Bio-X|publisher=[[Stanford University]]|access-date=2009-02-27}}</ref> and played a key role in securing the funding for the [[Kavli Institute for Particle Astrophysics and Cosmology]].<ref name="chu-77">{{cite web|title=Steven Chu named director of Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory|url=http://news-service.stanford.edu/news/2004/july7/chu-77.html|publisher=Stanford News Service|date=2004-06-21|access-date=2009-02-24}}</ref> In August 2004, Chu was appointed as the director of the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, a [[United States Department of Energy National Laboratories|U.S. Department of Energy National Laboratory]], and joined UC Berkeley's Departmentdepartment of Physicsphysics and Departmentdepartment of Molecularmolecular and Cellcell Biologybiology.<ref name="BerkeleyNews">{{cite news|title=Obama chooses Nobelist Steven Chu as secretary of energy|url=http://berkeley.edu/news/media/releases/2008/12/15_obama.shtml|author=Robert Sanders|publisher=[[University of California, Berkeley]]|date=2008-12-15|access-date=2009-03-26}}</ref> Under Chu's leadership, the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory was a center of research into [[biofuel]]s and [[solar energy]].<ref name="Hebert" /> He spearheaded the laboratory's Helios project, an initiative to develop methods of harnessing solar power as a source of [[renewable energy]] for transportation.<ref name="BerkeleyNews" />
 
Chu's early research focused on [[atomic physics]] by developing [[laser cooling]] techniques and the [[magneto-optical trap]]ping of atoms using [[lasers]]. He and his co-workers at Bell Labs developed a way to cool atoms by employing six laser beams opposed in pairs and arranged in three directions at right angles to each other. Trapping atoms with this method allows scientists to study individual atoms with great accuracy. Additionally, the technique can be used to construct an [[atomic clock]] with great precision.<ref name="NobelPhys">{{cite web|url=http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/physics/laureates/1997/press.html|title=The Nobel Prize in Physics 1997|publisher=[[Nobel Foundation]]|date=1997-10-15|access-date=2009-03-13}}</ref>
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Steven Chu was awarded the [[Nobel Prize in Physics]] in 1997 for the "development of methods to [[laser cooling|cool]] and trap atoms with laser light", together with [[Claude Cohen-Tannoudji]] and [[William Daniel Phillips]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/physics/1997/press-release/ |work=Nobel Prize |title=Press Release: The 1997 Nobel Price in Physics}}</ref>
 
He is a member of the [[United States National Academy of Sciences|U.S. National Academy of Sciences]],<ref>{{Cite web|title=Steven Chu|url=http://www.nasonline.org/member-directory/members/62452.html|access-date=2021-12-03|website=www.nasonline.org}}</ref> the [[American Academy of Arts and Sciences]],<ref>{{Cite web|title=Steven Chu|url=https://www.amacad.org/person/steven-chu|access-date=2021-12-03|website=American Academy of Arts & Sciences|language=en}}</ref> the [[American Philosophical Society]],<ref>{{Cite web|title=APS Member History|url=https://search.amphilsoc.org/memhist/search?creator=Steven+Chu&title=&subject=&subdiv=&mem=&year=&year-max=&dead=&keyword=&smode=advanced|access-date=2021-12-03|website=search.amphilsoc.org}}</ref> the [[Pontifical Academy of Sciences]] and the [[Academia Sinica]] of [[Taiwan]], and is a foreign member of the [[Chinese Academy of Sciences]] and the [[Korean Academy of Science and Engineering]].<ref name="MITWorld">{{cite web|url=http://mitworld.mit.edu/speaker/view/857|title=MIT World Speakers: Steven Chu|publisher=Massachusetts Institute of Technology|access-date=2009-01-13|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090227171636/http://mitworld.mit.edu/speaker/view/857|archive-date=2009-02-27}}</ref> In 1994, The Optical Society recognized Chu with the [[William F. Meggers Award in Spectroscopy|William F. Meggers Award]]. The Society later elected him an Honorary Member.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Steven Chu's Profile {{!}} Stanford Profiles |url=https://profiles.stanford.edu/steve-chu |access-date=2024-06-24 |website=profiles.stanford.edu}}</ref> He was also awarded the [[Humboldt Prize]] by the [[Alexander von Humboldt Foundation]] in 1995. In 1998, Chu received the Golden Plate Award of the [[Academy of Achievement|American Academy of Achievement]].<ref>{{cite web|title= Golden Plate Awardees of the American Academy of Achievement |website=www.achievement.org|publisher=[[American Academy of Achievement]]|url=https://achievement.org/our-history/golden-plate-awards/#science-exploration}}</ref>
 
[[File:Pontifical Academician Steven Chu.jpg|thumb|Chu with his medal as a Pontifical Academician, 2018]]
 
Chu received an honorary doctorate from [[Boston University]] when he was the keynote speaker at the 2007 commencement exercises.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bu.edu/commencement/2007/address.html|title=Commencement 2007: Address and Honorees|publisher=[[Boston University]]|access-date=2009-01-25|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081012080300/http://www.bu.edu/commencement/2007/address.html|archive-date=2008-10-12}}</ref> He is a Seniorsenior Fellowfellow of the [[Design Futures Council]].<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20071106072349/http://www.di.net/about/senior_fellows/ Design Futures Council Senior Fellows]. di.net</ref> ''Diablo Magazine'' awarded him an Eco Award in its April 2009 issue,<ref>[http://www.diablomag.com/Diablo-Magazine/April-2009/Diablo-Eco-Awards/ Diablo Eco Awards Diablo Eco Awards] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090806030701/http://www.diablomag.com/Diablo-Magazine/April-2009/Diablo-Eco-Awards/ |date=2009-08-06 }}. Diablo magazine April 2009</ref> shortly after he was nominated for Energy Secretary.
 
[[Washington University in St. Louis]] and [[Harvard University]] awarded him honorary doctorates during their 2010 and 2009 commencement exercises, respectively.<ref>{{cite web |date=2010-05-06 |title=Five to receive honorary degrees |url=http://news.wustl.edu/news/Pages/20707.aspx |publisher=[[Washington University in St. Louis]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.news.harvard.edu/gazette/2009/06.04/honorands.html|title=Ten honorary degrees awarded at Commencement|publisher=[[Harvard University]]|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090609021455/http://www.news.harvard.edu/gazette/2009/06.04/honorands.html|archive-date=2009-06-09}}</ref> He was awarded an honorary degree from [[Yale University]] during its 2010 commencement.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/05/24/yale-graduation_n_587773.html | work=Huffington Post | first=Leah | last=Finnegan | title=Celebs Converge At Yale's Graduation Ceremony (PHOTOS) | date=2010-05-24}}</ref> He was also awarded an honorary degree from the [[Polytechnic Institute of New York University]], the same institution at which his father taught for several years, during its 2011 commencement.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.poly.edu/press-release/2011/04/25/us-doe-secretary-steven-chu-speak-nyu-poly-commencement |title=Home &#124; NYU Tandon School of Engineering |access-date=2012-05-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110907080611/http://www.poly.edu/press-release/2011/04/25/us-doe-secretary-steven-chu-speak-nyu-poly-commencement |archive-date=2011-09-07 |url-status=dead }}</ref> [[Penn State University]] awarded him an honorary doctorate during their 2012 commencement exercises.<ref name="Penn State Live">{{cite web|url=http://live.psu.edu/story/59426|title=U.S. Secretary of Energy to speak at May 5 commencement ceremony|publisher=The Pennsylvania State University|access-date=2012-04-26|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120428145627/http://live.psu.edu/story/59426|archive-date=2012-04-28}}</ref> In 2014, Chu was awarded an honorary doctorate from [[Williams College]], during which he gave a talk moderated by Williams College Professor Protik Majumder.<ref name="williamscollege">{{cite press release |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title=Williams College Announces its 2014 Honorary Degree Recipients |url=http://communications.williams.edu/news-releases/3_19_2014_honorarydegree/ |location=Williamstown, Massachusetts |publisher=[[Williams College]] |date=2014-03-19 |access-date=2014-06-11}}</ref> He was awarded an honorary doctorate from [[Dartmouth College]] during its 2015 commencement.<ref>{{cite web |title=Steven Chu (Doctor of Science) |url=https://news.dartmouth.edu/news/2015/06/steven-chu-doctor-science |website=Dartmouth News |access-date=9 October 2020 |language=en |date=14 June 2015}}</ref> Chu was also awarded an honorary doctorate from [[Amherst College]] in 2017, where he later gave a lecture titled "Climate Change and Needed Technical Solutions for a Sustainable Future" in March 2018.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.amherst.edu/news/specialevents/commencement/awards/2017-honorees/steven-chu|title=2017 Honorees {{!}} Steven Chu {{!}} Amherst College|website=www.amherst.edu|language=en|access-date=2018-08-01}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.amherst.edu/academiclife/departments/physics/seminars_and_colloquia/node/707123|title=Seminars & Colloquia {{!}} Professor Steven Chu, Stanford University: "Climate Change and needed technical solution for a sustainable future" {{!}} Amherst College|website=www.amherst.edu|language=en|access-date=2018-08-01}}</ref>
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Chu was elected an international fellow of the [[Royal Academy of Engineering]] UK in 2011, and a [[List of Fellows of the Royal Society elected in 2014|Foreign Member of the Royal Society (ForMemRS) in 2014]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://royalsociety.org/people/steven-chu-11224/|title=StevenChu - Royal Society|website=royalsociety.org}}</ref> His nomination reads:
 
{{blockquote|Steven Chu's development of methods to laser cool and trap atoms was recognisedrecognized by the award of the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1997. He also pioneered the development of [[Atom interferometer|atom interferometry]] for precision measurement, and he introduced methods to visualize and manipulate [[Single-molecule experiment|single bio-molecules]] simultaneously with [[optical tweezers]]. Throughout his career, he has sought new solutions to the energy and climate challenges. From January 2009 to April 2013, he was the 12th U.S. Secretary of Energy under President Barack Obama, and initiated the Advanced Research Projects Agency - Energy, the Energy Innovation Hubs, and the [[Clean Energy Ministerial]] meetings.<ref name=royal>{{cite web|url=https://royalsociety.org/people/fellowship/2014/steven-chu/ |title=Professor Steven Chu ForMemRS |publisher=The Royal Society |archive-date=2014-12-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141220122748/https://royalsociety.org/people/fellowship/2014/steven-chu/ |location=London |url-status=dead }}</ref>}}
 
==U.S. Secretary of Energy==
[[File:Steven Chu official DOE portrait.jpg|thumb|Chu's official portrait as [[United States secretary of energy]], January 21, 2009]]
 
Chu's nomination to be Secretary of Energy was unanimously confirmed by the [[United States Senate|U.S. Senate]] on January 20, 2009.<ref name="Bloomberg">{{cite news|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aFtD02yqOtMw|title=Senate Confirms Seven Obama Nominees, Delays Clinton|author=Nicholas Johnston|publisher=[[Bloomberg L.P.]]|date=2009-01-20|access-date=2009-01-25}}</ref> On January 21, 2009, Chu was sworn in as Secretary of Energy in the [[Barack Obama administration]]. Chu is the first person appointed to the U.S. Cabinet after having won a Nobel Prize.<ref name="FirstNobel">{{cite web|url=http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2008/12/a-nobel-prize-w.html|title=A Nobel Prize Winner in the Cabinet|publisher=[[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]]|author=Jake Tapper|date=2008-12-11|access-date=2009-03-23|author-link=Jake Tapper}}</ref> He is also the second Chinese American to be a member of the U.S. [[United States Cabinet|Cabinet]], after former [[U.S. Secretary of Commerce|Secretary of Commerce]] [[Gary Locke]].<ref name=".">{{cite news|author=Sky Canaves|title=Commerce Nominee a Locke In China|newspaper=The Wall Street Journal|date=2009-02-26|access-date=2009-03-23|url=https://blogs.wsj.com/chinajournal/2009/02/26/commerce-nominee-a-locke-in-china/}}</ref>
 
In February 2009, Chu visited China where he and China's [[Ministry of Science and Technology (China)|Minister of Science and Technology]] [[Wan Gang]] announced the [[US–China Clean Energy Research Center|US-China Center Clean Energy Research Center]] (CERC).<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Lewis |first=Joanna I. |title=Cooperating for the Climate: Learning from International Partnerships in China's Clean Energy Sector |date=2023 |publisher=The [[MIT Press]] |isbn=978-0-262-54482-5 |location=Cambridge, Massachusetts}}</ref>{{Rp|page=|pages=119, 122}}
 
[[File:President Obama and Secretary Chu.jpg|right|thumb|250px|Chu meeting with Obama, February 5, 2009]]
 
Chu's scientific work continued, however, and he even published a paper on [[gravitational redshift]] in ''[[Nature (journal)|Nature]]'' in February 2010<ref>{{Cite journal | doi = 10.1038/nature08776| title = A precision measurement of the gravitational redshift by the interference of matter waves| journal = Nature| volume = 463| issue = 7283| pages = 926–9| year = 2010| last1 = Müller | first1 = H. | last2 = Peters | first2 = A. | last3 = Chu | first3 = S. | pmid=20164925|bibcode = 2010Natur.463..926M | s2cid = 4317164}} According to Nature he worked on this "during nights, weekends and on planes – after putting in 70–80 hours a week as energy secretary"</ref> and another one he co-authored in July 2010.<ref>{{Cite news | last = Borestein | first = Seth | agency = Associated Press | title = Energy secretary's hobby is nano science | work = NBC News | access-date = 2010-07-12 | date = 2010-07-07 | url = httphttps://www.nbcnews.com/id/38130342wbna38130342 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal | doi = 10.1038/nature09163| title = Subnanometre single-molecule localization, registration and distance measurements| journal = Nature| volume = 466| issue = 7306| pages = 647–51| year = 2010| last1 = Pertsinidis | first1 = A. | last2 = Zhang | first2 = Y. | last3 = Chu | first3 = S. | pmid=20613725|bibcode = 2010Natur.466..647P | s2cid = 205221226}}</ref>
 
In March 2011 Chu said that regulators at the U.S. [[Nuclear Regulatory Commission]] should not delay approving construction licenses for planned U.S. nuclear power plants in the wake of the [[Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster]] in [[Japan]].<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-nuclear-licenses-idUSTRE72E6PM20110315 | work=Reuters | title=Japan crisis should not delay new U.S. reactors: Chu | date=2011-03-15 | access-date=2017-07-02 | archive-date=2015-09-24 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924151845/http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/03/15/us-usa-nuclear-licenses-idUSTRE72E6PM20110315 | url-status=live }}</ref>
 
In August 2011, Chu praised an advisory panel report on curbing the environmental risks of [[natural gas]] development. Chu responded to the panel's report on [[hydraulic fracturing]], the controversial drilling method that is enabling a U.S. gas boom while bringing fears of groundwater contamination. The report called for better data collection of air and water data, as well as "rigorous" air pollution standards and mandatory disclosure of the chemicals used in the hydraulic fracturing process. Chu said that he would "be working closely with my colleagues in the Administration to review the recommendations and to chart a path for continued development of this vital energy resource in a safe manner".<ref>{{cite web |last=Geman |first=Ben |url=http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/677-e2-wire/177419-chu-vows-to-chart-a-path-for-safe-gas-drilling |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120724091107/http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/677-e2-wire/177419-chu-vows-to-chart-a-path-for-safe-gas-drilling |url-status=dead |archive-date=2012-07-24 |title=Chu vows to 'chart a path' for safe gas drilling |publisher=Thehill.com |date=2011-08-18 |access-date=2012-01-26 }}</ref>
 
Chu faced controversy for a statement he made prior to being appointed, claiming in a September 2008 interview with the Wall Street Journal that "somehow we have to figure out how to boost the price of gasoline to the levels in Europe."<ref>{{cite web |last1=King|first1=Bob|title=Chu's Europe gas quote haunts W.H. |url = http://www.politico.com/story/2012/02/chus-europe-gas-price-quip-still-haunts-obama-073138 |website=Politico|access-date=23 January 2017}}</ref> However, in March 2012, he retracted this comment, saying "since I walked in the door as secretary of Energy I've been doing everything in my powers to do what we can to … reduce those prices" and that he "no longer shares the view [that we need to figure out how to boost gasoline prices in America]".<ref>{{cite web |last1=Guillén|first1=Alex |title=Chu walks back '08 gas prices quote |url = http://www.politico.com/story/2012/03/chu-walks-back-europe-gas-prices-quote-073934 |website=Politico|date=13 March 2012|access-date=23 January 2017}}</ref>
 
On February 12, 2013, Chu was the [[designated survivor]] during the [[2013 State of the Union Address|State of the Union address]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2013/02/12/steven-chu-is-designated-survivor-for-state-of-the-union/|title=Steven Chu is the State of the Union 'designated survivor'|last=Weiner|first=Rachel|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=12 February 2013|access-date=2017-07-04}}</ref>
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In 1997, he married Jean Fetter, a British-American [[University of Oxford|Oxford]]-trained physicist.<ref name="Eljera" /> He has two sons, Geoffrey and Michael, from a previous marriage to Lisa Chu-Thielbar.<ref name="Nobel" />
 
Chu is interested in sports such as [[baseball]], [[swimming (sport)|swimming]], and [[cycling]]. He taught himself [[tennis]]—by reading a book—in the eighth grade, and was a second-string substitute for the school team for three years. He also taught himself how to [[pole vault]] using bamboo poles obtained from the local [[carpet]] store.<ref name="Nobel" /> Chu said he never learned to speak [[Chinese language|Chinese]] because his parents always spoke to their children in [[English language|English]].<ref name="Eljera" />
 
== In popular culture ==
Chu's Wikipedia article has been featured in the webcomic [[xkcd]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Citogenesis |url=https://xkcd.com/978/ |access-date=2022-07-04 |website=xkcd}}</ref> He has also been satirised as a no-nonsense Secretary of Energy in a [[cutaway gag]] in season 11 of the American animated comedy show [[Family Guy]].<ref>{{Citation |title=Steven Chu Cutaway Family Guy |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vOUSQ7Y8hG0 |language=en |access-date=2022-08-17}}</ref>
 
== See also ==
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{{Wikiquote}}
{{Commons category|Steven Chu}}
* [https://www.aip.org/history-programs/niels-bohr-library/oral-histories/47519 Interview of Steven Chu by David Zierler on May 18 & June 22, 2021, Niels Bohr Library & Archives, American Institute of Physics, College Park, MD USA]
* [http://energy.gov/contributors/secretary-energy-dr-steven-chu Secretary of Energy Steven Chu] at [[United States Department of Energy]]
* {{Nobelprize}}
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