Science Envoy Travels to Poland
Media Note
Office of the Spokesperson
Washington, DC
February 20, 2015
U.S. Science Envoy Dr. Arun Majumdar will travel to Poland February 21-28 in support of President Obama’s initiative to
strengthen the United States’ science and education relationships overseas. Dr. Majumdar will meet with representatives
from the scientific, academic, and business communities to discuss innovation, advanced technology research and
development, and look for ways to advance U.S.-Poland energy research collaboration.
Dr. Majumdar is the Jay Precourt Professor at Stanford University, where he serves on the faculty of the Department of
Mechanical Engineering and is a Senior Fellow of the Precourt Institute for Energy. Prior to joining Stanford, he was
the Vice President for Energy at Google, where he created several energy technology initiatives and advised the company
on its broader energy strategy. He continues to be a consultant to Google on energy and is the Vice Chair of Secretary
of Energy Ernest Moniz’s “Secretary of Energy Advisory Board.”
In October 2009, Dr. Majumdar was nominated by President Obama and confirmed by the Senate to become the Founding
Director of the Advanced Research Projects Agency - Energy (ARPA-E), where he served until June 2012. Between March 2011
and June 2012, Dr. Majumdar also served as the Acting Undersecretary of Energy and as Senior Advisor to the Secretary of
Energy. Prior to joining the Department of Energy, Dr. Majumdar was the Almy and Agnes Maynard Chair Professor of
Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science and Engineering at the University of California, Berkeley and the Associate
Laboratory Director for Energy and Environment at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. His research career includes
the science and engineering of nanoscale materials and devices as well as large engineered systems.
The U.S. Science Envoy Program is a core element of the Administration’s commitment to global engagement in science and
technology. President Obama announced the program in Cairo in June 2009. Since the program’s inception, Science Envoys
have visited 25 countries.
The Science Envoys travel as private citizens and share the knowledge and insights they gain abroad with the U.S.
scientific community upon their return. These exchanges contribute to further cooperation and dialogue with key
partners.
For further information, please contact Kia Henry at henrykt@state.gov
ENDS