Robert K. Kaufmann
Professor at Department of Earth and Environment at Boston University
Robert K. Kaufmann, Ph.D. focuses his research on three primary areas: global climate change, world oil markets and land-use changes. His exploration of global climate change delves into questions surrounding human-induced climate shifts and their implications for natural ecosystems and human well-being. In the realm of world oil markets, Dr. Kaufmann merges geological, engineering and economic factors to understand oil supply, demand and prices, with a current focus on discerning the influence of market fundamentals and speculation on significant oil price fluctuations.
Additionally, Dr. Kaufmann conducts analyses on the correlation between socioeconomic development and land-use alterations. He develops methodologies that integrate satellite imagery with ground-based indicators of economic activity, applying these techniques to study economic progress in the Pearl River Delta of China and soybean cultivation in the Brazilian Amazon.
Beyond academia, Dr. Kaufmann is a founding partner of First Fuel Software, later acquired by Uplight. The company employs various mathematical and engineering approaches to conduct energy audits for commercial buildings remotely, significantly reducing audit costs and expediting the implementation of energy-saving measures, thereby curbing energy consumption, carbon emissions and saving costs for individuals.
