Frequently Asked Questions

Yes! The Institute partners closely with the College and with both academic and operational departments to improve Dartmouth's energy footprint, help evolve energy management in Hanover and in the region, and expand understanding about energy in local communities as well as among students, faculty, and staff. And, reflecting the global scope of energy challenges and the diverse expertise of Dartmouth faculty and students, our programs extend far beyond Hanover. Faculty and students will be encouraged to conduct field research in remote corners of the world; testify before national legislatures on the most urgent energy matters; collaborate across disciplines to create documentaries for media; engage in vigorous classroom debate; launch global energy discussions on social media channels; host international conferences on hot-button energy issues; pitch prospective investors on energy-related technology; and gather real-time data on energy production, distribution, and consumption — all the while sharing information with the world.

The Institute is a resource for both undergraduate and graduate students, providing opportunities to study the intersection of energy and society comprehensively, from the perspective of the humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, and engineering.  IIES will help train the next generation of leaders who will seek solutions to the challenges posed by the world's energy needs. 

IIES is starting with co-curricular programming.  The Energy 101 Series, Energy Immersion Trips and Winterim Energy Bridge Program are all non-credit opportunities for students to delve into energy and society.  IIES will build on the foundation of these and other experiential programs to develop new and augmented classes, and craft pathways for students in all majors to explore and concentrate on energy systems. New courses could address such topics as energy and the individual, energy economics, energy policy, energy systems, energy exploration and transportation, energy wealth and poverty, food energy systems, future of energy, and energy data. Additional opportunities to learn via real-world experience will include activities such as exploring geothermal sites in Iceland, engaging with energy leaders in academics and industry, interning for government committees in Ottawa and Washington, D.C., and much more.

As the Institute becomes fully operational, the College will determine whether to establish energy-related undergraduate and/or graduate degrees.

The Dartmouth Library provides research guides on energy and energy technology. 

Current funding opportunities for energy and society research at the Irving Institute can be found here.

True to its interdisciplinary focus, the Institute's new home will be situated between the Tuck School of Business and Thayer School of Engineering, placing it in proximity to cutting-edge activities at the schools and creating a point of convergence for faculty and students from around campus. Its physical location in front of the Murdough Center will add a prominent new façade to Tuck Drive. 2021 is the current target date for the opening of the new building. Learn more about the Irving Institute's new home here. 

No. The Institute will invite participation from 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 Institute's promise for meeting energy-related social challenges. While members of the Irving Institute may make recommendations for policy and technology changes based on empirical data, the Institute itself will not advance or adhere to any political agenda.