Leidy Klotz

Leidy Klotz is a behavioral scientist and engineering professor at the University of Virginia who studies how and why humans design - how we transform things from how they are to how we want them to be. His book "SUBTRACT: The Untapped Science of Less" (2021) has translations in eight languages and has sparked breakthroughs in psychology, environment, business, well-being, and education. His next book, "IN A GOOD PLACE: How the Spaces Where We Live, Work, and Play Can Help Us Thrive" (2026), is available for pre-order. Klotz has also written for outlets such as The Washington Post, Fast Company, Scientific American, and Harvard Business Review; published his work in top journals like Nature and Science; and has been interviewed on Hidden Brain, Freakonomics, Mindscape and The Atlantic’s How to Build a Happy Life. He has worked with clients ranging from the Departments of Energy and Homeland Security to CapitalOne and Amazon, and regularly presents at leading universities and organizations.

Before becoming a professor, Leidy designed and built schools in New Jersey and before that he played professional soccer.