Dr. Jacob Friedman

How can we protect the environment from the devastation caused by acid rain? Or bring a damaged ecosystem back to health? These are questions that occupy Jacob Friedman. 

While switching to renewable energy sources tends to dominate the current conversation, a lesser-known solution Friedman investigated early in his career involves identifying and measuring the chemical compounds in combustion and using that data to devise pollution-reduction technologies. “There are over a hundred chemical compounds that only exist at very high temperatures,” Friedman says. “They’re mostly nasty critters in tiny amounts, but we burn billions of tons of hydrocarbons, so it adds up.”

Today, Friedman’s research focuses more on alternative energy systems, such as solar-powered heat pumps. His students share his passion for developing the green technologies that reduce our dependence on oil and gas and make renewable energy the better choice. “It’s unlikely that we’re going to see the end of fossil fuels any time soon,” he says. “But developing more innovative energy systems is crucial for sustainable development.”