Richard Sears
Visiting scientist, Laboratory for Energy and the Environment; affiliate and visiting scientist, Laboratory for Information and Decision Systems
areas of expertise: oil and gas industry
Richard Sears received his BS in physics and MS in geophysics from Stanford University in 1976. Currently, he conducts applied research in energy systems at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and consults for universities and energy companies.
His research interests are in energy systems, the development of hydrocarbon resources, and the future transition to renewable energy. He recently retired from Shell Oil Company after 33 years in oil and gas exploration and production where he contributed to and led exploration and development projects on six continents. He was an instructor at Shell’s Exploration Training Center in Houston and served as Exploration Economics Manager for Shell Oil Co. He was Head of Exploration for Shell U.K. in London, and from 1998-2005 he was Vice President, Shell International E&P Inc., leading Shell’s global deepwater subsurface exploration and development activities.
In 2006, he became External Research Coordinator for Royal Dutch Shell, managing Shell sponsored research at universities and national laboratories in North America. Also since 2006, he has held an appointment as Visiting Scientist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He has given invited and keynote talks at conferences in the US, UK, Africa and Asia. He serves on the Advisory Board for the Dean of Earth Sciences at Stanford University, is a member of the Society of Exploration Geophysicists and of the American Association of Physics Teachers, and is a Registered Professional Geoscientist in the State of Texas.
request an interview: Sarah McDonnell | 617-253-8923 | s_mcd@mit.edu