156. Ted Caplow, Life at the Intersection of Society and Technology

Show Notes

Ted Caplow graduated with a degree in social science and has had a career in engineering and entrepreneurship. He describes his initial interest in science and his experience with physics at Harvard, which he found challenging. Ted shares his interest in humanities, particularly theater, and his involvement in various theater activities at Harvard. He discusses his consideration of theater conservatory programs and urban planning after graduation. 

Joining the Peace Corps and Sailing across the Atlantic

Ted recounts his application to the Peace Corps and the unexpected technical fields he was qualified for, which were teaching  English or beekeeping. This led him to reconsider his career path. He describes his sailing adventure across the Atlantic Ocean with his family and friends. They left shortly after graduation and the trip lasted six months. They stopped in the Azores for a couple of weeks, onto Gibraltar and Spain, through the Mediterranean. They stopped in Sardinia and stayed in Malta for a month; they sailed to Greece, the islands and Cyprus where they stopped and decided whether to continue around the world or go back to real life. 

Returning to New York and the Theater Industry

Ted returned and went to New York where he  joined the theater industry, working on production and starting his own theatrical company. Ted talks about his involvement in the theater industry, including producing interdisciplinary performances and meeting his first wife through a mutual friend. He describes his transition from theater to entrepreneurship. He started his own company and a non-profit theater company. This lasted a few years before Ted felt he should focus on a more technical field and he discusses the separation between creative pursuits and technical professions. Ultimately, he decided to pursue urban planning and his interest in sustainable development.

A Shift to Engineering

Ted shares his experience at Princeton and Columbia, where he pursued a PhD in engineering, despite initial doubts about his qualifications. He reflects on the challenges and rewards of his academic journey, including the intense environment at Princeton and the decision to pursue a master's degree instead of a PhD. He wrote his masters’ thesis on solar power. Moving on from academia, Ted’s next job was with a yacht designer. He then ran his friend’s restaurant for two years before going back to school and earning his PhD. in engineering at Columbia in 2004.

The Development of the Science Barge

 Ted explains his idea to create a sustainable technology laboratory in the Bahamas, why he became interested in hydroponics, and why he didn’t go to the Bahamas. He explains how the original idea evolved into the Science Barge in the Hudson River.  The Science Barge was a hydroponic greenhouse with solar panels, wind power, and aquaponics, designed to educate schoolchildren about sustainable technologies such as recycling the waste water. Ted discusses the challenges of moving the barge every two months and the decision to find a permanent home for it in Yonkers, and how this venture inspired the SunWork Center project.

Sustainable Development Success Stories

He highlights the success of the SunWork Center, a greenhouse on the rooftop of PS 333 in Manhattan, and the expansion of New York SunWorks to over 300 schools. Ted describes the development of Bright Farms, a commercial company that grew local produce in greenhouses on top of grocery stores. He shares the challenges and successes of Bright Farms, including partnerships with major retailers and the acquisition by Cox Enterprises. Ted reflects on the importance of sustainable design and the impact of his work on the food industry. He discusses the evolution of his design firm, Caplow Manzano, and its focus on creating durable, resilient homes that prioritize human health and environmental sustainability. 

Technological Innovation in Building

Ted talks about his personal journey and the diverse skills he has developed over the years. He reflects on the importance of technological innovation, the role of engineering in his work, and the difficulty of navigating and innovating around  all the components of building houses. Ted shares his plans for expanding his design firm's impact and the potential for scaling sustainable design solutions.

Harvard Reflections

He expresses gratitude for the opportunities and challenges that have shaped his career and looks forward to continuing his work in sustainable design and education. He mentions E.O. Wilson for Evolutionary Biology as an incredible talent and researcher in that field. He also mentions a poetry class with Seamus Heaney. He also mentions a class on China and one on Africa that he found inspiring and eye opening, and taking classes on Shakespeare from actors in the repertory theater.

Timestamps:

04:26: Exploring Career Paths 

15:45: Entrepreneurial Ventures and Personal Life 

31:56: The Science Barge and Educational Initiatives 

48:06: Commercial Ventures and Bright Farms 

55:37: Personal Reflections and Future Plans 

Links:

Caplow Manzano: https://www.caplowmanzano.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/caplow/

Featured Non-profit:

The featured non-profit of this week’s episode is brought to you by Kristen Hunter who reports: 

 

“Hi, I'm Kristen Hunter, class of 1992. The featured nonprofit of this episode of The 92 Report is Habitat for Humanity, Greater Boston. Habitat for Humanity, Greater Boston works in partnership with families in need to build decent, affordable homes that strengthen communities, expanding access to home ownership for low income households, I'm proud to support the work of Habitat for Humanity, Greater Boston, whose CEO, James Costars, a longtime mentor, colleague and friend, has brought visionary leadership to their mission. You can learn more and support their work at habitatboston.org,  and now here's Will Bachman with this week's episode.”

To learn more about their work, visit: habitatboston.org

*AI generated show notes and transcript