Innovation and Power - Ep17: Prof. Ernest J. Moniz

What this episode covers

What would Professor Ernest Moniz, 13th United States Secretary of Energy, say to the 16th Secretary who will be appointed in the coming months? Would he, as the architect of the JCPOA (known better as the Iran nuclear deal) agree with Donald Trump that it was “the worst deal ever negotiated? (Spoiler alert: no). What does he consider to be the most interesting innovations in the energy space? Listen to the special, 17th episode of Cleaning Up to find out! Bio/introduction While the US election votes are being counted, Ernie Moniz and Michael Liebreich sit down for Cleaning Up’s 17th episode. Ernie Moniz served as the U.S. Secretary Energy during President Barack Obama’s second term. He was the architect of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (known better as the Iran nuclear deal). In addition to that he played a key role in negotiating the Paris Agreement and founding Mission Innovation at COP21. Currently he is the CEO of Energy Futures Initiative, a Washington based non-profit he founded. He is also co-chairman of the Board of Directors and CEO of the Nuclear Threat Initiative, a non-profit organization that has advanced innovative solutions for securing nuclear materials, building international cooperation for nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation, preventing the spread of disease and reducing radiological threats. He is the inaugural Distinguished Fellow of the Emerson Collective and CEO of the non-profit Energy Futures Initiative. Before going into politics, Ernie Moniz worked at the MIT’s Department of Physics from 1973 until becoming Secretary of Energy in 2013. Dr. Moniz was the Founding Director of the MIT Energy Initiative (MITEI) and Director of the Laboratory for Energy and the Environment. He is now the Cecil and Ida Green Professor of Physics and Engineering Systems emeritus and Special Advisor to the MIT President. Dr. Moniz is also a non-resident Senior Fellow at the Harvard Belfer Center. Professor Moniz previously served in government as DOE Under Secretary from 1997 until January 2001 with science, energy, and nuclear security responsibilities and from 1995 to 1997 as Associate Director for Science in the Office of Science and Technology Policy with responsibility for the physical, life, and social sciences.