Paul Sorensen, Ph.D. engineer, entrepreneur, philanthropist, MB parent ’02
Towards Green Petroleum
Paul Sorensen is chairman of the board of directors of Equitable Origin, an innovative stakeholder-based voluntary certification system designed to promote higher social and environmental standards, greater transparency, and accountability in oil and gas exploration and production. The company is based in New York and Ecuador, where Paul spent formative years. Equitable Origin is working to reduce the impact of oil and gas operations, create new markets for responsibly-produced fuels and petroleum products, and empower consumers and businesses to reward energy companies that achieve independent, third-party certification. Companies that sell EO-certified products can pioneer a new frontier in sustainability, reduce their carbon footprint, and protect biodiversity and local and indigenous cultures. Paul began his professional career by working in the mathematics department of General Motors Research. He followed this by cofounding Hibbitt, Karlsson, & Sorensen, Inc. At HKS, Paul assisted in the development of the ABAQUS program, widely used for the simulation of complex solid and structural mechanics problems involving nonlinear response. Since 2005, Paul has focused on philanthropic efforts. He is an active member of advisory committees and boards for various educational and charitable institutions. Paul is a member of Moses Brown’s board of trustees.
Education
Ph.D., Brown University