Brian von Herzen

Dr. Brian Von Herzen is a pioneering climate scientist and technologist dedicated to regenerating marine ecosystems. As founder and executive director of the Climate Foundation, he leads groundbreaking work in Marine Permaculture, harnessing seaweed mariculture to restore ocean health and combat climate change.

Brian graduated magna cum laude in Physics from Princeton University in three years. As a Hertz Fellow, he earned a Ph.D. in Planetary Science from Caltech, deepening his understanding of Earth's climate. His Silicon Valley career with companies like Intel, Disney, and Microsoft honed his problem-solving skills, earning him numerous patents. He later redirected his expertise to address environmental challenges.

Motivated by the climate crisis, Brian founded The Climate Foundation to explore scalable, ecologically inspired approaches to addressing climate disruptions.Recognizing seaweed's potential, he advanced Marine Permaculture arrays that upwell deep ocean nutrients using solar and wave energy, fostering seaweed growth in nutrient-poor waters.

In the Philippines, his Marine Permaculture demonstration restored seaweed ecosystems, enhancing biodiversity, improving fisheries, and providing sustainable livelihoods. This work demonstrates seaweed cultivation's multipurpose benefits: capturing carbon, producing food and bioproducts, and sequestering carbon long-term through "SeaForestation."

Dr. Von Herzen's visionary approach integrates technology with ecological restoration, positioning Marine Permaculture as a viable climate change mitigation strategy. His efforts aim to regenerate marine life and create sustainable economic opportunities, fostering resilience in vulnerable communities. Under his leadership, the Climate Foundation is poised to significantly impact global carbon reduction.

April 2022