Alan Bigelow, Ph.D. joined Solar Cookers International (SCI) in 2016. He is SCI's Program and Science Director. He leads testing and performance evaluation programs at SCI and advocates for solar-thermal cooking at the United Nations.
Alan is a physicist and a solar cook. He has led solar cooking workshops locally in New York and internationally in India, Nepal, Haiti and Kenya. He participated in a solar expedition in Nepal where during nine days at high altitude all meals were prepared using portable solar cookers. He designed solar-energy workshops as a Scientist-in-Residence at the Hudson River Museum and he included solar cooking in a course on sustainable engineering he designed and taught at Columbia University’s Science Honors Program.
Prior to joining Solar Cookers International, Alan had a 15-year physics research career at Columbia University Medical Center developing innovative technology for radiation-biology studies. He has authored numerous peer-reviewed journal articles and is listed as an inventor on patents for safe sterilization methods that use a specific range of ultraviolet light, far-UVC light, to selectively damage bacteria and viruses while not harming human cells.
Alan received a Ph.D. in Physics in 2000. He is a Climate Reality Leader trained by former Vice President Al Gore. He has expertise in designing and using off-grid solar photovoltaic (PV) systems and completed the entry-level photovoltaic course and exam offered by the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP). He is also an accomplished musician and co-founded a solar-powered eco band that combines science and music to raise awareness and educate about environmental issues and solutions. He is often solar cooking at home or in public. Languages: English, French, Thai, Hindi.