Chirag Dhara was a researcher in foundational quantum physics, specializing in quantum randomness. However, shifting personal interests and a wider perspective convinced him to move into his current area of research—thermodynamic perspectives on atmospheric boundary layer processes in the larger context of biogeochemistry. What drew him to this field was his concern about the twin problems of climate change and peak energy. These issues reach beyond merely the hard sciences and into the social and economic domains, with their potential to call into question our economic systems and social choices (for example, the link between development and energy consumption). Chirag’s approaches to these issues typically come from the perspective of the physical sciences, and he would like to expand on this and share it with those from other disciplines