What We Do
Physicians, Scientists, and Engineers (PSE) for Healthy Energy is a multidisciplinary, nonprofit research institute that studies the way energy production and use impact public health and the environment. We share our work and translate complex existing science for all audiences. Our headquarters is in Oakland, California.
Our Mission
We are dedicated to supplying evidence-based scientific and technical information on the public health, environmental, and climate dimensions of energy production and use.
- We put our mission into practice by integrating scientific understanding across multiple disciplines, including engineering, environmental science, and public health.
- We conduct original research, translate existing research for nontechnical audiences, and disseminate scientific information and analyses to inform policy at the local, state, and federal levels.
- We focus on the overlap of energy production, public health, and the natural environment and produce vetted scientific analyses.
Our Values
Scientific Integrity. We believe in honest and transparent scientific methods and observation, follow rigorous protocols, and only produce and rely upon empirically defensible data.
Communication. We proactively support the exchange of knowledge across disciplines and diverse audiences, and make information sharing accessible, collaborative, and multi-directional.
Impact. We work to inspire, refine, and reform energy and climate policies in ways that protect and benefit society, public health, and the environment.
Justice. We recognize the historical, current, and future distribution of environmental hazards and seek to inform equitable and just solutions for overburdened communities.
Sustainability. We support energy options that adequately address societal needs, minimize harms to the environment and public health, and ensure energy supply for future generations.
Our History
PSE was founded in 2010 by a physician, a scientist, and an engineer based at Cornell University, and policy expert recently retired from University of Binghamton. The four had been working individually to fill a knowledge gap at the intersection of environmental science, energy policy, and public health. They came together in Ithaca, New York, to work collectively, and formed Physicians, Scientists, and Engineers for Healthy Energy, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. The group quickly became known simply as “PSE.” The founders created a mission to generate and disseminate reliable, independent scientific research on energy production and its impacts on the environmental and human health, and translate complex or technical concepts for policy-makers and the general public. Their aim was — and continues to be — growing the knowledge base in this interdisciplinary arena, preventing misinformation, and providing a publicly available resource for highly vetted data from academicians, government agencies, and national laboratories. Read more about PSE’s unique founding story.
Our Research
We have three formal areas of research: Clean Energy, Energy and Environment, and Environmental Health.
