Lessons from the White House: Climate, AI, and the Future

Join us for a wide-ranging conversation with Professor Ali Zaidi, former White House National Climate Advisor to President Biden and current Professor of Practice in the Materials Science and Engineering Department at Penn. This student-invited speaker event is co-sponsored by the Vagelos Integrated Program in Energy Research (VIPER) and Kleinman Center for Energy Policy.

Drawing on his experience leading national climate strategy, shaping major industrial policy initiatives, and working at the crossroads of technology and public service, Professor Zaidi will explore the driving forces transforming today’s energy landscape—and the challenges and opportunities they present for the next generation.

The event format will be a fireside chat, led by two VIPER student moderators, with time for audience questions at the end.

Pizza lunch will be provided!

Speakers

Ali Zaidi

Professor of Practice

Department of Materials Science and Engineering

Ali Zaidi is the former White House National Climate Advisor to President Joe Biden and a leading architect of the Administration’s climate, energy, and industrial policy agenda. Before serving in the White House, Zaidi was New York State’s Deputy Secretary for Energy and Environment, where he oversaw the state’s climate strategy and clean energy transition. A graduate of Harvard and Georgetown Law, he has held senior roles across the federal government, including in the Office of Management and Budget during the Obama Administration. Zaidi is now on the faculty at the University of Pennsylvania, where he works at the intersection of climate policy, technology, and economic development.