Where Are They Now? Vicki Norberg-Bohm

Since its founding in 1973, the Center has hosted many pre-and post-doctoral fellows who have gone on to become leaders in academia, government, the private sector, and the non-profit world. In each issue of BCSIA News , we catch up with a former fellow to learn about life after the Belfer Center.
 

Vicki Norberg-Bohm came to the Center in 1989 as one of the first environ-mental fellows. She was an Assistant Professor at MIT before returning to BCSIA this year as Director of the Energy Technology Innovation Project, a joint project between the Science, Technology and Public Policy Program and the Environment and Natural Resources Program. Norberg-Bohm sat down with BCSIA News editor Anya Schmemann recently to talk about her work on energy technologies.
 

Q How did the Energy Technology Innovation Project emerge?
 

VNB The Energy Technology Innovation Project grew out of an existing project called Energy Research and Development Policy for a Greenhouse-Gas Constrained World. The name change reflects the fact that we are not just concerned with R&D, but are interested in the complete innovation process by which cleaner energy technologies are developed, commercialized, and deployed.
 

Q What are the goals of the project?
 

VNB The project on R&D for a Green-house-Gas Constrained World focuses on international cooperation to develop, demonstrate, and deploy cleaner and more efficient energy technologies. The project is examining the difference between current energy R&D systems and those needed to address climate change. Our aim is to think creatively and make proposals about how to close this gap, and specifically how the U.S. can work cooperatively with other countries to move R&D programs, policies, and institutions in a direction that would address the greenhouse gas issue.
 

Q And the Technology Innovation Project?
 

VNB We are examining how different policy mechanisms influence private investment in technology innovation. Specifically, we are considering three "pathways" through which the government influences technology innovation-regulation, government sponsored R&D programs, and assessments about future environmental problems. Our goals are to contribute to the understanding of the process of radical technological innovation, and to provide some practical guidance to those faced with the task of promoting technological innovation for managing global environmental change.
 

Q Why is this work urgent?
 

VNB There is uncertainty about the timing over which climate change will happen, how large a change we will see over the next 50 to 100 years, and what it will mean for particular regions of world. But it is clear that greenhouse gases are causing climatic change, and precisely because of the uncertainty we should be proactively managing this issue. The U.S. must take a leadership role because we have the capability to do so and because we have a responsibility as the biggest greenhouse gas producer.
 

Q Why should funding for energy R&D be increased?
 

VNB There are lots of reasons to invest in R&D for cleaner energy technologies. Technologies that will reduce greenhouse gas will also reduce other kinds of environ-mental concerns, such as smog, and acid rain. Also, our investment in energy R&D contributes to U.S. security, economic growth, and U.S. competitiveness.
 

Q What is the challenge in the developing world?
 

VNB That is a big question, so let me talk about the focus of our work. We are initially working on cooperation with China and India and expect to work with Russia and Brazil in the future. Meeting development goals will require huge investments in energy infrastructures. Energy infrastructures last 30 to 50 years, so the type of infrastructure that is put in place now will have an impact for a long period of time. Progress made in putting in low greenhouse gas emitting infrastructures will have important long-term benefits.
 

Q Why is international cooperation important?
 

VNB Climate change is not a problem that any one country can solve by itself. It is in the U.S. national interest to cooperate with other countries to design national and international policies, institutions, and infrastructures that will help manage greenhouse gases while simultaneously supporting local development and local environmental concerns.
 

Q How did you enjoy your time here as a fellow?
 

VNB This is a place which is incredibly intellectually stimulating, the faculty are very involved in both academic and policy debates, and the fellows are fascinating and brilliant people. It was wonderful to be a fellow here and wonderful to return for the same reasons.