Who We Are

A consortium of researchers and collaborators.

The Conceptual Investigation Unit brings together people interested in conceptual analysis aimed at advancing human welfare while protecting the environment. We focus on problems that are global in scale and where solutions are likely to span many decades.

Govindasamy Bala

Professor at the Indian Institute of Science using Earth system models to study climate change, the carbon cycle, and the climate effects of geoengineering.

Ken Caldeira

Coordinator of the Conceptual Investigations Unit, focusing on climate, carbon, and human welfare at planetary scale.

Steve Davis

Professor in the Stanford Earth System Science Department, Director of the Sustainable Solutions Lab, and chief figure critic.

Lei Duan

Senior Scientist addressing questions at the intersection of climate, economics, and human welfare.

Koen van Greevenbroek

Postdoctoral Scholar at the Stanford Sustainable Solutions Lab researching energy- and food-systems modeling and optimization for sustainable futures.

Juan Moreno-Cruz

Professor and Canada Research Chair in Energy Transitions at the University of Waterloo, working on the economics of energy systems, technological change, and climate policy.

Mahendra Nimmakanti

Climate scientist studying monsoon dynamics, ENSO teleconnections, and extreme rainfall at the Indian Institute of Science and Stanford University.

Lamprini Papargyri

Postdoctoral Scholar working on climate policy, economics, and equity, with a background in the durability of photovoltaic systems.

Harry Saunders

Visiting Investigator studying energy economics and the efficiency rebound effect, and originator of the Khazzoom–Brookes Postulate.

Yuan Wang

Assistant Professor in Stanford's Department of Earth System Science studying aerosol–cloud–climate interactions, air pollution, and the climate effects of atmospheric constituents.

Yuhan Wang

Postdoctoral Researcher in Stanford's Department of Earth System Science studying air quality, climate, their interactions, and potential solutions.