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[[File:Head121.jpeg|225px|thumb|left|by Leela Keshav, 2012]]
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=Using computer science to address the climate crisis=
  
I am the Robert Sansom Professor of Computer Science in the [https://www.cst.cam.ac.uk/ Department of Computer Science and Technology] at the [https://cam.ac.uk University of Cambridge], a Fellow of the [https://rsc-src.ca/en/press-release-rsc-presents-class-2019 Royal Society of Canada], [http://fellows.acm.org/ ACM], [https://cs.uwaterloo.ca/news/professor-srinivasan-keshav-named-ieee-fellow-institutes IEEE], and a [http://www.iitd.ac.in/content/distinguished-alumni-award-and-alumni-service-award-2019-0 Distinguished Alumnus] of IIT Delhi. I am also a Fellow of [https://www.fitz.cam.ac.uk/ Fitzwilliam College]. From 2003 to 2019 I was a Professor at the [http://cs.uwaterloo.ca Cheriton School of Computer Science] at the [http://www.uwaterloo.ca University of Waterloo].
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[[File:SKp-Chicken.jpg |250px|thumb|left|In Paradise, by Nicole Keshav, 2025]]  
  
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I'm the Robert Sansom Professor of Computer Science at the [https://www.cst.cam.ac.uk/ Department of Computer Science and Technology], [https://www.cam.ac.uk/ University of Cambridge], and a Professorial Fellow at [https://www.fitz.cam.ac.uk/ Fitzwilliam College]. I'm also a Fellow of the [http://www.rsc-src.ca Royal Society of Canada], [https://www.acm.org ACM], and [https://www.ieee.org IEEE].
  
My [http://blizzard.cs.uwaterloo.ca/iss4e/category/research-showcase/ current research] is to use sensing, communication, and control to increase the carbon efficiency of energy systems. A recent focus is on [http://blizzard.cs.uwaterloo.ca/sirius blockchains] for [https://theconversation.com/how-blockchain-can-democratize-green-power-87861 transactive energy]. Here is a more detailed list of what I am currently [[working on]].
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'''What I believe'''
  
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We're in a race against time. Climate change and biodiversity loss threaten civilization, yet we have unprecedented computational and observational capabilities. My work is driven by a simple conviction: '''computer science can—and must—be a force for planetary good.'''  
''Recent news''
 
  
*[https://cs.uwaterloo.ca/news/making-pv-storage-systems-more-financially-attractive-homeowners Making photovoltaic storage systems more financially attractive to homeowners]
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I care about building systems that work, training students who will lead the next generation of climate-informed technologists, and creating open resources that democratize access to environmental intelligence.
*[https://www.cst.cam.ac.uk/news/srinivasan-keshav-appointed-robert-sansom-professorship Srinivasan Keshav appointed to the Robert Sansom Professorship]
 
*[https://cs.uwaterloo.ca/computer-science/news/raouf-boutaba-srinivasan-keshav-named-fellows-rsc Raouf Boutaba and Srinivasan Keshav named Fellows of the Royal Society of Canada]
 
*[https://cs.uwaterloo.ca/computer-science/news/researchers-use-blockchain-drive-electric-vehicle Researchers use blockchain to drive electric-vehicle infrastructure]
 
*[https://cs.uwaterloo.ca/computer-science/news/strong-negative-result-provides-insight-improve-rfid-sensing A strong negative result provides insight to improve RFID sensing systems]
 
*[https://cs.uwaterloo.ca/computer-science/news/speeding-blockchain-meet-real-world-speeds-and-needs Speeding up a blockchain to meet real-world speeds and needs]
 
  
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'''Right now, I'm most excited about two projects:'''
  
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'''[https://svr-sk818-web.cl.cam.ac.uk/tessera/index.php/Main_Page TESSERA]''' — A global, open, 10-meter resolution foundation model for Earth observation. We're making planetary-scale environmental monitoring accessible to anyone with a laptop. TESSERA processes satellite imagery to detect deforestation, monitor ecosystems, and track land use changes. It's being used by conservation organizations, researchers, and governments worldwide. [https://arxiv.org/abs/2506.20380 Read the paper] or listen to this [https://svr-sk818-web.cl.cam.ac.uk/keshav/wiki/images/9/9d/TESSERA.m4a NotebookLM-generated podcast] explaining it.
  
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'''Energy Informatics''' — I'm writing a free, open-source textbook. I'm using Quarto, VSCode, and modern collaborative tools to make it not just a book, but a living hub for the energy informatics community. I'll be releasing chapters on GitHub as I write them, with the first one ready by the end of November 2025.
  
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'''The journey'''
''Links'':
 
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Srinivasan_Keshav Wikipedia], Google [https://news.google.com/search?q=%22srinivasan%20keshav%22&hl=en-CA&gl=CA&ceid=CA%3Aen News] and [https://scholar.google.ca/citations?user=-EMkK7QAAAAJ&hl=en&oi=ao Scholar profile]
 
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''Pronunciation'': [http://www.pronouncenames.com/pronounce/Srinivasan Srinivasan] [http://www.pronouncenames.com/search?name=keshav Keshav] (Keshav is my first name, though syntactically last).
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I started in computer networking in 1988, contributing to foundational work on protocols, congestion control, and network architecture. Around 2010, I had a realization: the most important problems facing humanity weren't about faster networks—they were about sustainability. Since then, I've worked on reducing carbon footprints in energy generation, transportation, and buildings. For the past five years, my focus has been on using satellite data and machine learning to understand and protect Earth's ecosystems.
  
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It's been an unusual path, but the thread is consistent: '''using computational thinking to solve problems that matter.'''
'''Contact information'''
 
  
''Telephone:'' +44 01223 767789
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More details on [[Working_on|what I'm currently working on]].
  
''Email:'' sk818 at cam dot ac dot uk (I do not respond to email on weekends or between 5:30pm and 9:00am).
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'''Recent highlights'''
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* '''ACM SIGENERGY Lifetime Achievement Award''' I'm honored to be the inaugural recipient. [https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/tpf5memzz95qzot2dzsgq/Hints-on-doing-resaearch-keynote.pptx My award talk: "Hints on doing research"]
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* '''Tutorial on self-supervised learning''' at [https://energy.acm.org/conferences/eenergy/2025/tutorial.php ACM eEnergy 2025]. [https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/v9j8u9ckoahjiw4qjhjho/SSL-tutorial-eEnergy-2025.pptx Slides here]
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* '''Public lecture:''' [https://youtu.be/mblvc8txs_0 "Is there hope for the climate?"]
  
''Physical:'' FN04 Computer Laboratory, [https://www.cst.cam.ac.uk/contact William Gates Building]
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----
  
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'''Join us'''
  
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'''For students:''' I lead the [https://www.cst.cam.ac.uk/research/eeg Energy and Environment Group] at Cambridge. If you're passionate about using technology to address climate and environmental challenges, explore potential [[MPhil/ACS_projects|Part II/ACS projects]] or get in touch.
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'''For collaborators:''' I'm always interested in partnerships with organizations working on environmental monitoring, renewable energy, or climate adaptation—especially those that can help scale TESSERA's impact.
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'''Resources'''
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[https://tinyurl.com/keshavcalendar My calendar] | [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3AkpcXf_aiYwW2uXZR2pEA YouTube channel] | [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Srinivasan_Keshav Wikipedia] | [https://scholar.google.ca/citations?user=-EMkK7QAAAAJ Google Scholar] | [https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6549-0464 ORCID] | [https://www.cst.cam.ac.uk/research/eeg Energy and Environment Group] | [https://www.youtube.com/@cambridgeenergyandenvironm4227/videos EEG YouTube channel]
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'''Pronunciation:''' [http://www.pronouncenames.com/pronounce/Srinivasan Srinivasan] [http://www.pronouncenames.com/search?name=keshav Keshav] (Keshav is my given name)
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'''Email:''' sk818 at cam dot ac dot uk
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I don't [https://theconversation.com/do-you-answer-emails-outside-work-hours-do-you-send-them-new-research-shows-how-dangerous-this-can-be-160187 respond to email] on weekends or between 5:30pm and 9:00am. During working hours, if your email requires less than 20 minutes of work, expect a rapid response.
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[[Older images|Other portraits]]
 
[[Older images|Other portraits]]
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[[Older_news_items|Older news items]]

Latest revision as of 17:47, 13 November 2025

Using computer science to address the climate crisis

In Paradise, by Nicole Keshav, 2025

I'm the Robert Sansom Professor of Computer Science at the Department of Computer Science and Technology, University of Cambridge, and a Professorial Fellow at Fitzwilliam College. I'm also a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, ACM, and IEEE.

What I believe

We're in a race against time. Climate change and biodiversity loss threaten civilization, yet we have unprecedented computational and observational capabilities. My work is driven by a simple conviction: computer science can—and must—be a force for planetary good.

I care about building systems that work, training students who will lead the next generation of climate-informed technologists, and creating open resources that democratize access to environmental intelligence.

Right now, I'm most excited about two projects:

TESSERA — A global, open, 10-meter resolution foundation model for Earth observation. We're making planetary-scale environmental monitoring accessible to anyone with a laptop. TESSERA processes satellite imagery to detect deforestation, monitor ecosystems, and track land use changes. It's being used by conservation organizations, researchers, and governments worldwide. Read the paper or listen to this NotebookLM-generated podcast explaining it.

Energy Informatics — I'm writing a free, open-source textbook. I'm using Quarto, VSCode, and modern collaborative tools to make it not just a book, but a living hub for the energy informatics community. I'll be releasing chapters on GitHub as I write them, with the first one ready by the end of November 2025.

The journey

I started in computer networking in 1988, contributing to foundational work on protocols, congestion control, and network architecture. Around 2010, I had a realization: the most important problems facing humanity weren't about faster networks—they were about sustainability. Since then, I've worked on reducing carbon footprints in energy generation, transportation, and buildings. For the past five years, my focus has been on using satellite data and machine learning to understand and protect Earth's ecosystems.

It's been an unusual path, but the thread is consistent: using computational thinking to solve problems that matter.

More details on what I'm currently working on.

Recent highlights


Join us

For students: I lead the Energy and Environment Group at Cambridge. If you're passionate about using technology to address climate and environmental challenges, explore potential Part II/ACS projects or get in touch.

For collaborators: I'm always interested in partnerships with organizations working on environmental monitoring, renewable energy, or climate adaptation—especially those that can help scale TESSERA's impact.


Resources

My calendar | YouTube channel | Wikipedia | Google Scholar | ORCID | Energy and Environment Group | EEG YouTube channel


Pronunciation: Srinivasan Keshav (Keshav is my given name)

Email: sk818 at cam dot ac dot uk

I don't respond to email on weekends or between 5:30pm and 9:00am. During working hours, if your email requires less than 20 minutes of work, expect a rapid response.


Other portraits Older news items