Dr. Robert Cialdini, Chief Scientist
Professor Cialdini works exclusively with OPOWER to define, test and optimize messaging to increase conservation and participation in residential energy conservation programs.
Extensive scholarly training in the psychology of influence, together with over 30 years of research into the subject, has earned Dr. Cialdini an international reputation as an expert in the fields of persuasion, compliance, and negotiation. Dr. Cialdini has spent much of the last decade studying conservation and efficiency.
His books including, Influence: Science and Practice, are the results of years of study into the reasons that people comply with requests in business settings. Worldwide, Influence has sold over a million copies. In the field of influence and persuasion, Dr. Cialdini is the most cited social psychologist in the world today.
Robert Cialdini received his Ph.D from the University of North Carolina and his post doctoral training from Columbia University. He has held Visiting Scholar Appointments at Ohio State University, the University of California, the Annenberg School of Communications, and the Graduate School of Business of Stanford University. Currently, Dr. Cialdini holds dual appointments at Arizona State University. He is a W.P. Carey Distinguished Professor of Marketing and Regents Professor of Psychology, where he has also been named Distinguished Graduate Research Professor.
Dr. Wesley Schultz, Scientific Advisor
Wesley Schultz is a leading scholar of social psychology and statistics. Dr. Schultz is a Professor of Psychology at California State University, Senior Scientist at Action Research and a scientific advisor for OPOWER.
His research involves the application of social psychological theory and methods to the understanding of social and environmental problems. Over the past 15 years, he has conducted a number of influential and widely-cited studies on the behavioral aspects of sustainability. While much of his work has focused on residential energy consumption and efficiency, he has also conducted studies on recycling, water conservation, environmental attitudes, litter, and pollution prevention.
Dr. Schultz received his B.A. in Psychology from the University of California Irvine, and his Ph.D. from Claremont Graduate University.