The American Academy of Arts and Sciences has announced a $5 million gift from members Louise Henry Bryson and John E. Bryson in support of research in the fields of science, engineering, and technology, with a focus on energy and the environment.

The gift, which reflects John Bryson's lifelong love of the outdoors and his work to promote clean energy, boost energy efficiency, and protect the environment, includes funds to endow the John E. Bryson Director of Science, Engineering, and Technology Programs, a senior leadership position at the academy dedicated to bringing together experts from across all disciplines for research and recommendations.

After graduating from Yale Law School, Bryson co-founded the Natural Resources Defense Council and served in California state government as chairman of the Water Resources Control Board and president of the Public Utilities Commission. For more than eighteen years, he was chairman and CEO of Edison International, the parent company of Southern California Edison. Bryson also served as a member of the United Nations Secretary-General's Advisory Group on Energy and Climate Change and as Secretary of Commerce in the Obama administration. Following a long career in media, Louise Bryson joined the board of the J. Paul Getty Trust, serving as its chair for four years.

"This generous gift provides both endorsement and encouragement of the work we are doing to ensure that advances in science, engineering, and technology can better the lives of people and the health of the planet," said American Academy president Jonathan Fanton. "We are grateful to John and Louise and appreciate this expression of their commitment to the environment."