Current Roles and Companies
David Keith is currently a professor of applied physics at Harvard University and a professor of public policy at the Harvard Kennedy School. He is also the founder and chief scientist of Carbon Engineering, a direct air capture company, and a board member or advisor to several climate and AI ventures, including roles tied to Frontier and other climate-focused funds. He continues to publish research on solar geoengineering and carbon removal, and his work is frequently cited in policy discussions and industry reports Forbes.
In addition to academic and entrepreneurial roles, Keith serves as a strategic advisor to companies developing large-scale carbon capture and direct air capture systems. He has been involved in pilot projects and commercial planning for facilities that aim to capture CO2 from ambient air and store it underground or use it in fuels and materials. His current focus includes integrating these technologies with renewable energy and hydrogen production systems Carbon Engineering.
Key Projects and Research Focus
Keith’s current research centers on solar radiation management, including stratospheric aerosol injection, and on the economics and engineering of direct air capture. He leads or co-leads projects that model the climate impacts and cost trajectories of these technologies, and he has published peer-reviewed papers and reports that inform both academic and policy audiences. His work often quantifies how these approaches could complement emissions reductions and negative emissions strategies Google Scholar.
On the applied side, Keith is involved in the design and analysis of commercial-scale direct air capture plants, including process engineering, energy integration, and cost optimization. He has contributed to feasibility studies and pilot deployments that test sorbent materials, heat exchange systems, and modular plant designs. These projects aim to demonstrate that carbon capture can be deployed at scale with verifiable, measurable results U.S. Department of Energy.
Public and Industry Influence
Keith regularly speaks at major conferences and policy forums on climate technology, carbon markets, and geoengineering governance. He has advised governments, NGOs, and private investors on the technical and economic viability of carbon removal and solar radiation management, and his analyses are often referenced in industry roadmaps and white papers. His public commentary emphasizes rigorous, transparent evaluation of climate interventions and the importance of aligning incentives with measurable outcomes Nature Climate Change.
In the venture and finance space, Keith is associated with climate-focused funds and initiatives that invest in early-stage carbon capture, clean energy, and AI-driven climate analytics. He participates in advisory boards and working groups that aim to set standards for carbon accounting, removal credits, and the responsible deployment of climate technologies. His influence spans academia, industry, and policy, with a focus on evidence-based decision-making and scalable solutions SEC.