Michael Siminovitch , BID / 77

Michael Siminovitch, a professor in the UC Davis Design Program, heads the California Lighting Technology Center, created in 2004 at the University of California, Davis, to develop energy-efficient lighting with market-friendly design. A graduate of Carleton, Siminovitch received masters degrees in industrial design and architecture from the University of Illinois, and his doctoral degree in architecture and human factors engineering from the University of Michigan.

Siminovitch’s work entails research and development in residential and commercial lighting technologies. He works with manufacturers, utilities and state agencies to test and demonstrate next-generation lighting systems. He has developed many successful lighting products, such as the Berkeley Lamp, which saves three-quarters of the wattage used by traditional lamps.