Daniel P. Schrag

Daniel P. Schrag is the Sturgis Hooper Professor of Geology and Professor of Environmental Science and Engineering at Harvard University, serving as Director of the Harvard University Center for the Environment. He also co-directs the Program on Science, Technology, and Public Policy at Harvard’s Kennedy School Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs.

His academic foundation includes a B.S. in geology and geophysics and political science from Yale University, followed by a Ph.D. in geology from the University of California, Berkeley in 1993. After teaching at Princeton University, he joined Harvard in 1997.

Schrag’s research spans Earth’s entire climate history, specializing in extracting insights from geological records to forecast anthropogenic climate change. His work integrates geochemical oceanography, paleoclimatology, and stable isotope geochemistry with energy technology and policy analysis. Key investigations focus on carbon capture, low-carbon fuels, and the geochemical signatures of ancient climate shifts. His recent publications reveal an intensifying focus on climate policy mechanisms, particularly border carbon adjustments and climate finance frameworks that bridge international equity gaps.

His scholarly contributions are recognized through prestigious awards including the MacArthur Fellowship (2000), the American Geophysical Union’s James B. Macelwane Medal, membership in the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and designation as a Technology Review Young Innovator (1999).

• MacArthur Fellowship (2000)
• James B. Macelwane Medal (American Geophysical Union)
• American Academy of Arts and Sciences Member
• AAAS Fellow
• Technology Review 100 Young Innovators (1999)

Schrag significantly influenced national policy through eight years on President Obama’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST), shaping reports on energy, climate, and STEM education. He co-founded the Potential Energy Coalition to deploy marketing expertise in climate risk communication and leads the Harvard-based Schrag Group, which explores interdisciplinary solutions at the climate-energy nexus through fieldwork, modeling, and policy analysis.