About the Oppenheimer Project

The Oppenheimer Project is committed to honoring the legacy of J. Robert Oppenheimer and advancing a safer future in the face of technological change.  The project is the first representation of J. Robert Oppenheimer from his own family, but is designed to be an open, inclusive organization that is not limited to family members.

The Oppenheimer Project is currently fiscally-sponsored by the Social Good Fund, a US 501(c)3 organization. Please contact info@oppenheimerproject.org to receive project updates, or click below to make a tax deductible donation.

Team

Charles Oppenheimer

Charles Oppenheimer

Founder & Co-Executive Director

Charles has spent his career in software and as an entrepreneur.  He believes there is value in representing J. Robert Oppenheimer from a family perspective, and in creating an inclusive organization that all can be involved in via the Oppenheimer Project. 

Karen Pak Oppenheimer

Karen Pak Oppenheimer

Co-Executive Director

Karen is a strategy and operations adviser for philanthropic and social impact organizations, focused on the intersections of population, health and climate. An engineer and scientist by training, she served in research, strategy and senior management roles at various nonprofit, public and private sector organizations and was on the frontlines of the COVID-19 response.

Theo Kalionzes

Theo Kalionzes

Senior Advisor

Theo is an expert in philanthropy and nuclear policy. For the past decade he served at two private foundations, Carnegie Corporation of New York and the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation. Theo steered over $80 million in grants to the nonprofit sector, aiming to reduce the nuclear risks and facilitate productive dialogue on the future of nuclear energy as a climate solution. Previously he was a consultant and speechwriter at the United Nations in Vienna, Austria. 

 Ash Jogalekar

Ash Jogalekar

Trained as a chemist, Ash Jogalekar is an Oppenheimer Project Scientist in Residence and writes about the history of science and technology. In this capacity, he has written for Scientific American, Nature, 3 Quarks Daily and his own blog, “The Curious Wavefunction”. As a firm believer in Mark Twain’s quote that history may not repeat but does rhyme, Ash is passionate about applying lessons from the history of science and technology to pressing problems like AI, nuclear weapons and climate change.

Advisors

Kate Oppenheimer

Kate Oppenheimer

Founding Member

Kate Oppenheimer is a catalyst for creating unity amongst people, driving them towards achieving greater goals. With a background managing multi-million dollar businesses and leading large teams, Kate understands the power of effective leadership. In the realm of artificial intelligence, Kate works to bring minds together and support groups focused on a human-centered, technologically advanced future. With a blend of organizational psychology, mindfulness training, and business growth expertise, Kate helps groups organize and amplify their voices, ensuring that their collective efforts are directed towards ethical and meaningful advancements in AI.  At the heart of Kate’s approach lies a deep commitment to ethical use of technology. She believes in harnessing the potential of AI for the betterment of humanity, advocating for a future where innovation and ethics walk hand in hand. 

Lynn Orr

Lynn Orr

Lynn Orr, a distinguished scientist, is a founding member of the Oppenheimer Project. He served as the Under Secretary for Science and Energy at the US Department of Energy and held key positions at Stanford University. His expertise lies in energy, earth sciences, and carbon storage. Orr is a member of the National Academy of Engineering and has contributed to various organizations, including the Packard Foundation and the ClimateWorks Foundation.

Larry Brilliant

Larry Brilliant

Dr. Larry Brilliant is a physician and epidemiologist, CEO of Pandefense Advisory, senior counselor at the Skoll Foundation, CNN Medical Analyst and a TED prize winner. Previously, he was the president and CEO of the Skoll Global Threats Fund, vice president of Google, and the founding executive director of Google.org. He was a key member of the successful WHO Smallpox Eradication Programme for SE Asia as well as the WHO Polio Eradication Programme. He co-founded the Seva Foundation, an NGO whose programs have given back sight to more than 5 million blind people in two dozen countries. In addition, he co-founded The Well, a progenitor of today’s social media platforms. 

Sue Suh

Sue Suh

Sue Suh is an award-winning executive whose career has spanned global media, philanthropy, social entrepreneurship and government service. During her tenure with the U.S. State and Defense Departments, Sue supported initiatives in multilateral arms control, bilateral nuclear arms control with Russia, and public diplomacy. She currently sits on several boards, including the Classical Theatre of Harlem, and advises The Oppenheimer Project and the Oppenheimer Science & Energy Leadership Program. 

Family Advisors

Dorothy Oppenheimer Vanderford

Dorothy Oppenheimer Vanderford

Founding Member

Dorothy, a granddaughter of J. Robert Oppenheimer, has been a founding advocate of the Project and brings a rich career history of researching, analyzing, designing, writing, and editing documentation used by both private sector corporations and the public sector, including the Department of Energy.

Michael Oppenheimer

Michael Oppenheimer

Founding Member

Michael, JRO’s nephew, has been an influential participant in the Oppenheimer Project offering his unique perspective on the legacy JRO would appreciate. 

Sean Karshis

Sean Karshis

Founding Member

Sean Karshis, former CTO of multiple organizations brings a deep understanding of software development leadership and large project management and execuition.  

Join Us

Your donation will support the Oppenheimer Project’s mission to promote and advocate for solutions to mitigate the existential risks posed by technological development.