Charles Weiss

Charles Weiss explores the interweaving of science and technology with politics, economics, business, finance, ethics, law, psychology and culture. His publications cover a broad range of topics related to international policy for science, technology, and innovation: environment and energy policy, scientific uncertainty, precaution, the technical assistance program of the Marshall Plan, and science and technology in economic development. Professor Weiss was the first Science and Technology Adviser to the World Bank and served in that capacity for fifteen years.

Weiss is Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Science, Technology and International Affairs (STIA) at the School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University. He served as Director of the STIA program from 1997-2006, and shaped it into a unique undergraduate program that treats the role of science, technology and innovation in energy, environment, health, security, economic development and business competitiveness. STIA is now the second most popular undergraduate major at the School of Foreign Service.

Weiss’ latest book is The Survival Nexus: Science, Technology and World Affairs (Oxford University Press, 2022), which explores the role of science and technology in global issues of climate change, global health, nuclear issues, cybersecurity, Internet governance, competitiveness, and the alleviation of poverty and hunger. He is co-author, with William Bonvillian, of Structuring an Energy Technology Revolution (MIT Press, 2009) and Technological Innovation in Legacy Sectors (Oxford University Press, 2015), and is co-editor of Mobilizing Technology for Developing Countries (Praeger, 1979), and Technology, Finance and Development (Lexington, 1984).

Professor Weiss is a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. He is listed in Who’s Who in America and Who’s Who in the World. He holds a B.A., summa cum laude in chemistry and physics, and a Ph.D. in chemical physics and biochemistry, both from Harvard University. He lives with his wife in Bethesda MD. They have two children and six grandchildren.