Carl Wieman Speaking Fee: $30,000 to $50,000

Carl Wieman is a distinguished physicist and educator whose career bridges groundbreaking scientific discovery with transformative teaching practices. Born in Corvallis, Oregon, in 1951, he earned his B.S. from MIT in 1973 and his Ph.D. in physics from Stanford University in 1977. Early in his career, he focused on atomic and laser physics, leading to the 2001 Nobel Prize in Physics for his role in creating the Bose-Einstein condensate—a new state of matter formed by cooling atoms to near absolute zero. Despite his success in experimental physics, Wieman became increasingly interested in how science is taught. At the University of Colorado Boulder, he founded PhET Interactive Simulations in 2002, a project that provides free, research-based simulations to help students visualize and understand complex scientific concepts. These tools are now used over 180 million times annually worldwide. Wieman's commitment to improving science education extended to institutional reform. He led the Science Education Initiative at both the University of Colorado and the University of British Columbia, programs that applied evidence-based teaching methods across multiple departments. These initiatives have become models for similar efforts at universities across North America. In 2013, Wieman joined Stanford University as a professor of physics and education, where he continues to research and teach. His work emphasizes active learning and the development of scientific thinking skills. He also served as the Associate Director for Science in the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy from 2010 to 2012. Recognized for his contributions to both science and education, Wieman has received numerous accolades, including the Yidan Prize for Education Research in 2020. His ongoing efforts aim to make science education more effective and accessible, helping students not only learn scientific facts but also think like scientists.