Frequently Asked Questions

01)

• What are the goals of the Irving Institute?

  Human activity has unequivocally caused warming of our planet and drastic action must be taken to avoid the most catastrophic outcomes. The Arthur L. Irving Institute for Energy and Society was created to leverage Dartmouth's strengths in interdisciplinary teaching and learning, engineering, business, and sustainability by providing solutions to the critical energy and climate problems faced by communities and regions across the globe. The Irving Institute works with multiple departments and centers across Dartmouth to promote research and education related to energy and climate. Research supported by the Irving Institute focuses on areas such as energy system transitions, renewable energy, sustainable technologies, climate change mitigation, environmental policy, the intersection of energy and society, health, energy and climate justice, and climate adaptation. 

02)

• Is the Irving Institute an independent entity?

  Whenever Dartmouth receives a gift, it makes clear that the work of those supported by the donation is unfettered, and that research and teaching may take whatever directions are academically sound and justified without influence by the funder.

  By written agreement, Dartmouth, the Arthur L. Irving family, and Irving Oil have affirmed their commitment to the principles of academic freedom. These principles, which lie at the heart of all Dartmouth's academic endeavors, may be summarized as:

  • The freedom of scholars to pursue subjects of their choice—no matter how controversial their ideas and lines of inquiry may be,

  • Accuracy and objectivity in investigation and analysis, free of political, economic, or institutional influence, and

  • The freedom of scholars to make their theories and research results public—including publication in the open literature—so their work may be subject to scrutiny by colleagues, others may build on their methods and findings, and society may benefit from their ideas and discoveries.

03)

• How is the Irving Institute funded?

  The Institute is funded through a combination of public and private sources, including endowments, donations, grants, and partnerships with organizations that share its mission.

04)

• What academic programs does the Irving Institute offer?

  The Institute supports undergraduate courses and curricula, including the sustainable energy track in the environmental studies minor. The Institute also co-leads a foreign study program, hosts an Energy Justice Clinic, and offers numerous experiential learning opportunities related to energy, climate, and sustainability. The Institute also funds faculty research.

05)

• What experiential learning opportunities are available to students? 

  The Irving Institute provides undergraduate and graduate students with hands-on experiences in energy and climate studies through intensive short programs, internship and mentorship support, off-campus immersion trips, and grants for research, internships, and other educational opportunities. 

06)

• What types of events does the Irving Institute host?

  The Irving Institute hosts a wide variety of events in support of its mission, including lectures, seminars, workshops, conferences, and panel discussions featuring experts and thought leaders in climate and energy. Many of the events organized by the institute are open to the Dartmouth community and the public, providing opportunities for engagement and knowledge-sharing.

07)

• Does the Institute collaborate on research with external organizations?

  Yes, the Institute collaborates with industry partners, government agencies, NGOs, and other academic institutions to conduct research and address pressing climate and energy challenges. The institute promotes practical solutions through information dissemination, technology innovations, and community engagement initiatives, helping to drive positive change.

08)

• Are many Dartmouth alums involved in the climate and energy sector?

  We are aware of thousands of undergraduate and graduate school alums who are active in climate and energy as part of their postgraduate careers. The Institute draws from this large pool of alums as well as from nationally and internationally recognized experts in the field to create a vibrant year-round program of conferences, panels, lectures, public discussions, and research collaborations to find climate solutions. 

09)

• Will Dartmouth divest itself of any fossil fuel holdings?

  In 2021, Dartmouth launched a comprehensive plan to address the ongoing climate crisis, both locally and globally. The plan included investing in energy transitions while reducing all fossil fuel holdings to zero. On Earth Day 2023, before her term began, President Sian Leah Beilock committed to developing recommendations for a revised and more ambitious set of sustainability goals that reflect urgent needs identified by climate scientists. During her inaugural address in September 2023, President Beilock committed to rolling out specific and aggressive targets for 2030 and 2050 in fall 2023, in addition to investing more than a quarter of a billion dollars in campus decarbonization efforts over the next three years.

10)

• Will the Irving Institute take positions on policy issues and technologies involving climate and energy?

  While members of the Irving Institute may make recommendations for policy and technology changes based on empirical data, the Institute itself will not take a public position. The Irving Institute will invite participation from researchers, teachers and scholars who hold diverse views, and their interactions will create, collectively, a body of knowledge that cannot be reduced to a single statement or policy position. That free exchange of ideas lies at the heart of the Irving Institute's promise for meeting energy-related social challenges. 

11)

• What is the role of the Irving Institute advisory board?

  The advisory board provides advice and counsel, serving as a sounding board by providing diverse perspectives from alumni and professionals working in various areas of the energy sector, including sustainability, climate science, engineering, and research. Advisory board members are nominated by the provost on the recommendation of the executive director of the Irving Institute, who searches for members with varied perspectives and backgrounds who are passionate about the mission of the Irving Institute and its focus on energy transition. 

  Advisory board members serve terms of three years, reaffirmed each year. Board members serve up to two consecutive three-year terms. Members may serve additional terms at the discretion of the Dartmouth board of trustees. All advisory board members are subject to approval by the Dartmouth governance nominating committee of the board of trustees. Members of the advisory board receive no financial compensation for their work.