Alumni awards

Our alumni are changing the world

Each year, we recognize alumni for their significant contributions to address sustainability challenges and celebrate their impact on the Stanford community and the world.

2026 Recipients

Ross Stein, PhD ‘80, Geology

Distinguished Alumni Award

Ross Stein is CEO of Temblor, which he co-founded in 2015. Former U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Senior Scientist, he lectures in geophysics at the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability. A Fellow of the American Geophysical Union and the Geological Society of America, Stein received the Gilbert F. White Natural Hazards Award from AGU and the Eugene M. Shoemaker Distinguished Achievement Award of the USGS. His TEDx talk titled “Defeating Earthquakes” has been widely viewed. In 2003, the Science Citation Index reported that Stein was the second most cited author in earthquake science during the preceding decade; he was the tenth most cited during 1900-2010. Stein frequently brings insights to the public in media interviews and public talks, and in IMAX and Discovery Channel films.

Tim Latimer, MBA ‘17 and MS ‘17 Emmett Interdisciplinary Program in Environment and Resources

Early- to Mid-Career Alumni Award

Tim Latimer co-founded Fervo Energy in 2017, while a student at Stanford. Prior to founding Fervo Energy, Latimer worked as a drilling engineer at BHP Billiton, and as a consultant with Biota Technology. He was previously a fellow at Activate and the Clean Energy Leadership Institute. Latimer was honored as an Innovator Under 35 by MIT Technology Review in 2024 and a Presidential Leadership Scholar in 2022; he was granted the Geothermal Pioneer Award by Geothermal Rising in 2023. He has been lauded for his visionary leadership, innovative thinking, and deep commitment to sustainable energy solutions, as well as his extensive knowledge and experience in geothermal energy development and renewable energy markets.