Kleinman Center Names Vox Energy Writer Non-Resident Fellow

PHILADELPHIA—“On the occasion of a sold-out public lecture, I’m delighted to announce the appointment of David Roberts as our center’s newest senior fellow,” said Mark Alan Hughes, founding faculty director of the Kleinman Center for Energy Policy at the University of Pennsylvania School of Design.

David Roberts is an energy writer at Vox, where he covers climate change, clean energy and politics. Prior to Vox, Roberts was an energy and climate writer at Grist. Known for his ability to interpret complex topics with candor and clarity, Roberts has explained everything from Shell’s zero emissions targets to why nuclear plants should remain open.

“David has become a thought leader by deeply reading the almost daily emergence of new science on climate and energy,” said Hughes. “He translates this into writing that fosters decisions and action inside of government and beyond.”

To kick off his new appointment, Roberts gave a public lecture today in the Kleinman Center Energy Forum. More than one hundred students, faculty, and professionals attended his lecture, titled: “Electrify (Almost) Everything! Tackling Climate Change With Clean Energy.”

“How can you get involved?” Roberts asked the audience. “You can write about it,” he chuckled. Or you can get involved in other ways, like writing policy, or researching new technologies, or financing projects. “Electrify Everything is the context for how you can frame your own contributions and connect the dots,” he said.

“We look forward to supporting David’s research and writing on some of the most challenging energy policies issues facing the U.S. and the world,” said Hughes.

About the Kleinman Center: The Kleinman Center for Energy Policy operates within the School of Design at the University of Pennsylvania. Its mission is to create the conditions for policy innovation that support a just and efficient transition to sustainable energy.

About PennDesign: The mission of the University of Pennsylvania School of Design is to prepare students to address complex sociocultural and environmental issues through thoughtful inquiry, creative expression, and innovation. As a diverse community of scholars and practitioners, we are committed to advancing the public good—locally, nationally, and globally—through art, design, planning, and preservation. 

Media Contact
Lindsey Samahon
Director of Communications
Kleinman Center for Energy Policy
215.898.5900  lsamahon@upenn.edu