The US-China Green Energy Council is honored to welcome Professor Brian P. Schmidt, Nobel Laureate in Physics and Distinguished Professor of Astronomy at the Australian National University, to join UCGEC’s Advisory Board.
“We are truly proud to welcome Professor Brian Schmidt to the Advisory Board of the US-China Green Energy Council,” said Dr. Qi Wang, Chairman and CEO of UCGEC. “Professor Schmidt is one of the world’s most respected scientific leaders. His extraordinary contributions to science, his leadership in higher education, and his deep engagement with climate change and clean energy will bring tremendous value to UCGEC’s mission. His joining further strengthens UCGEC’s role as a high-level international platform connecting science, technology, policy, and global collaboration to accelerate the clean energy transition.”
Professor Schmidt was awarded the 2011 Nobel Prize in Physics, jointly with Saul Perlmutter and Adam Riess, for the discovery that the expansion of the universe is accelerating — a groundbreaking finding that transformed modern cosmology and reshaped humanity’s understanding of the universe. As leader of the High-Z Supernova Search Team, Professor Schmidt played a central role in one of the most important scientific discoveries of the past century.
Professor Schmidt is currently Distinguished Professor of Astronomy at the Australian National University. From 2016 to 2023, he served as the 12th Vice-Chancellor and President of ANU, one of the world’s leading research universities. His leadership has spanned frontier scientific research, global higher education, science policy, and public engagement.
Beyond his groundbreaking contributions to cosmology, Professor Schmidt has also demonstrated deep engagement with climate change, clean energy, and the global energy transition. At the 17th US-China Green Energy Summit, he delivered a highly insightful presentation on the future of clean energy and decarbonization, highlighting the importance of scientific innovation, evidence-based policy, and international cooperation in addressing climate change. His perspective reflects a rare combination of world-class scientific achievement, broad systems thinking, and practical understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing the global energy transition.
Professor Schmidt is a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science, the United States National Academy of Sciences, and the Royal Society. He has also been recognized as a Companion of the Order of Australia for his eminent service to science and higher education.
For UCGEC, Professor Schmidt’s joining is especially meaningful because the clean energy transition requires not only technological innovation, but also trusted scientific leadership, long-term strategic thinking, and the ability to connect science, policy, and global collaboration. His role on UCGEC’s Advisory Board will further strengthen UCGEC’s capacity to convene leading voices across science, energy, policy, and industry, and to advance high-level dialogue on climate solutions, green energy innovation, and sustainable development.
At a time when the world faces growing uncertainty around energy security, sustainable development, and climate cooperation, Professor Schmidt’s participation adds important intellectual depth and international stature to UCGEC’s work. His joining reflects UCGEC’s continued effort to build a world-class advisory platform composed of Nobel laureates, leading scholars, senior policymakers, and distinguished business leaders.
UCGEC believes that the clean energy transition is not only a technological and economic challenge, but also a global scientific and strategic challenge. Professor Schmidt’s broad perspective as a Nobel Prize-winning scientist, former university president, and thoughtful voice on climate and clean energy will help UCGEC further strengthen its ability to promote constructive dialogue and practical cooperation between the United States, China, and the broader international community.
With Professor Schmidt’s joining, UCGEC’s Advisory Board continues to grow as a distinguished group of global leaders committed to advancing clean energy innovation, climate cooperation, and sustainable development.