Ken Caldeira
Encyclopedia
Ken Caldeira is an atmospheric scientist who works at the Carnegie Institution for Science
's Department of Global Ecology. He researches ocean acidification
, climate effects of trees, intentional climate modification
, and interactions in the global Carbon cycle
/climate system. He also acted as an inventor for Intellectual Ventures
, a Seattle-based invention and patent company headed up by Nathan Myhrvold
.
Caldeira's work was featured in a November 2006 article in The New Yorker
, entitled "The Darkening Sea." In 2007, he contributed two op-ed
pieces on the subject of global warming
to The New York Times
. He was named a "Hero Scientist of 2008" by New Scientist
magazine.
In response to the controversy caused by Superfreakonomics over Caldeira's view on geoengineering, Caldeira rejected the suggestion that he said ″Carbon dioxide is not the right villain″. He responded by posting on his website, "Carbon dioxide is the right villain...insofar as inanimate objects can be villains." He said that while the other statements attributed to him by authors Steven Levitt and Stephen Dubner are ″based in fact″, the casual reader could come up with a misimpression of what he (Caldeira) believes.
in 1991 from the New York University
Department of Applied Science. From 1991 to 1993, Caldeira worked at Penn State University as a post-doctoral researcher. He then worked as an Environmental Scientist and Physicist at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
until 2005, when he began his current position at the Carnegie Institution Department of Global Ecology.
Carnegie Institution for Science
The Carnegie Institution for Science is an organization in the United States established to support scientific research....
's Department of Global Ecology. He researches ocean acidification
Ocean acidification
Ocean acidification is the name given to the ongoing decrease in the pH and increase in acidity of the Earth's oceans, caused by the uptake of anthropogenic carbon dioxide from the atmosphere....
, climate effects of trees, intentional climate modification
Geoengineering
The concept of Geoengineering refers to the deliberate large-scale engineering and manipulation of the planetary environment to combat or counteract anthropogenic changes in atmospheric chemistry The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change concluded in 2007 that geoengineering options, such...
, and interactions in the global Carbon cycle
Carbon cycle
The carbon cycle is the biogeochemical cycle by which carbon is exchanged among the biosphere, pedosphere, geosphere, hydrosphere, and atmosphere of the Earth...
/climate system. He also acted as an inventor for Intellectual Ventures
Intellectual Ventures
Intellectual Ventures is a private company notable for being one of the top-five owners of U.S. patents, as of 2011. Its business model has a focus on developing a large patent portfolio and licensing these patents to companies. Publicly, it states that a major goal is to assist small inventors...
, a Seattle-based invention and patent company headed up by Nathan Myhrvold
Nathan Myhrvold
Nathan Paul Myhrvold , formerly Chief Technology Officer at Microsoft, is co-founder of Intellectual Ventures. Myhrvold, usually with coinventors, holds 17 U.S. patents assigned to Microsoft and has applied for more than 500 patents. In addition, Myhrvold and coinventors hold 115 U.S...
.
Caldeira's work was featured in a November 2006 article in The New Yorker
The New Yorker
The New Yorker is an American magazine of reportage, commentary, criticism, essays, fiction, satire, cartoons and poetry published by Condé Nast...
, entitled "The Darkening Sea." In 2007, he contributed two op-ed
Op-ed
An op-ed, abbreviated from opposite the editorial page , is a newspaper article that expresses the opinions of a named writer who is usually unaffiliated with the newspaper's editorial board...
pieces on the subject of global warming
Global warming
Global warming refers to the rising average temperature of Earth's atmosphere and oceans and its projected continuation. In the last 100 years, Earth's average surface temperature increased by about with about two thirds of the increase occurring over just the last three decades...
to The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
. He was named a "Hero Scientist of 2008" by New Scientist
New Scientist
New Scientist is a weekly non-peer-reviewed English-language international science magazine, which since 1996 has also run a website, covering recent developments in science and technology for a general audience. Founded in 1956, it is published by Reed Business Information Ltd, a subsidiary of...
magazine.
In response to the controversy caused by Superfreakonomics over Caldeira's view on geoengineering, Caldeira rejected the suggestion that he said ″Carbon dioxide is not the right villain″. He responded by posting on his website, "Carbon dioxide is the right villain...insofar as inanimate objects can be villains." He said that while the other statements attributed to him by authors Steven Levitt and Stephen Dubner are ″based in fact″, the casual reader could come up with a misimpression of what he (Caldeira) believes.
Biography
In the 1980s, Caldeira worked as a software developer. He received his Ph.D in Atmospheric SciencesAtmospheric sciences
Atmospheric sciences is an umbrella term for the study of the atmosphere, its processes, the effects other systems have on the atmosphere, and the effects of the atmosphere on these other systems. Meteorology includes atmospheric chemistry and atmospheric physics with a major focus on weather...
in 1991 from the New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
Department of Applied Science. From 1991 to 1993, Caldeira worked at Penn State University as a post-doctoral researcher. He then worked as an Environmental Scientist and Physicist at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
The Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory , just outside Livermore, California, is a Federally Funded Research and Development Center founded by the University of California in 1952...
until 2005, when he began his current position at the Carnegie Institution Department of Global Ecology.