Advancing the Energy Transition: A Year of Impact at the Irving Institute

The year of 2025 has been one of growth and momentum at the Arthur L. Irving Institute for Energy and Society. At the end of 2024, Dartmouth's senior leadership approved the Institute's 2030 Strategic Plan, updating the mission to focus on accelerating an affordable, reliable, and equitable clean energy transition for the benefit of society. Over the past year, this plan has guided academic, research, and engagement programming to achieve expanded impact across and beyond the campus.

Below are ten stories from 2025 that highlight how the Irving Institute is actively bringing this vision to life across programs and initiatives.

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Members of the 2026 Master of Energy Transition cohort. (Photo by Beam Lertbunnaphongs '25)

1. Master of Energy Transition (MET)

One of our most significant achievements this year was the launch of the Master of Energy Transition (MET) program. This success resulted from dedicated efforts to assess industry needs, develop a robust curriculum, and attract an exceptional cohort of students. As Amanda Graham, PhD, MET & Academic Program Director, remarked, "We could not have engineered a better cohort for our inaugural class. They come from varied disciplines, career stages, and goals, and share a deep commitment to shaping a sustainable energy future." You can learn more about the MET Class of 2026: Tomorrow's Energy Leaders.

2. Faculty Expertise & Industry Mentorship

The MET program features dedicated faculty, an inspired interdisciplinary curriculum, and also offers a unique advantage: one-on-one career mentorship. In Guiding Tomorrow's Energy Leaders: Introducing Professor Junbo Zhao, we share insights into a MET faculty member actively engaged in the energy transition. The Irving Institute Advisory Board–representing leaders from across diverse energy interests–also generously shares their time and expertise, providing students with an unparalleled graduate experience. 

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Brianna Lambert '28, Irving Institute Student Grant recipient.

3. Undergraduate Co-curricular & Experiential Programming

Alongside the launch of this new graduate program, the Institute continued to support undergraduate experiential programs—bootcamps, immersive studies, and student grants—that fuel students' passion for the fascinating world of energy systems. A powerful example of these efforts can be found in Student Grant Recipients Driving Real-World Energy Solutions, which details students' internships, research projects, and connections with industry leaders — along with new insights into energy-focused career paths and graduate study options. 

4. Research & Faculty Seed Grants

The Institute's research programming has flourished, supporting faculty research through workshops, seminars, and seed grant funding. Among the year's highlights is the work of Professor Yan Li, an Irving Institute Seed Grant recipient, whose research has led to multiple publications and patents. You can find out more about some of her work in From Waste to Watt: Professor Yan Li's Thermoelectric Breakthrough.

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2025 Summer Summit participants in The Call to Lead Lab. (Photo by Claire Hester)

5. New Energy Summer Summit

Interdisciplinary collaboration remains central to the Institute's research mission. This commitment is exemplified by the annual New Energy Summer Summit, a transformative workshop that unites early-career scholars from various fields. One participant noted, "...it brings together brilliant minds from around the world–spanning social sciences, engineering, humanities, and natural sciences…I left with a head full of ideas, a heart full of gratitude, and friendships that will last a lifetime."

6. Faculty Seminar Series

The Institute also fosters collaboration through a monthly Faculty Seminar Series, which provides a forum for sharing research and building new connections. These conversations continue to spark partnerships and advance innovative approaches at the intersections of disciplines.

7. Thought Leadership

The new Sparks & Currents thought leadership series offers insights from scholars and industry leaders about current developments and pressing topics across energy and society. Recent topics have included information on AI applications in energy systems and catalyzing innovation through strategic capital coordination.

8. Energy Justice Clinic

Engagement remains a crucial pillar of the Institute's work, fostering a community of researchers, experts, and citizens committed to the decarbonization of the global economy. Dr. Sarah Kelly, who leads the Institute's Energy Justice Clinic, epitomizes this ethos through her work in both local and global contexts, advocating for social well-being in the energy transition. Kelly's contributions were recognized with the Dartmouth Climate Collaborative's 2025 Greener Together Award.

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The Cross-Border Currents discussion. (Photo by Beam Lertbunnaphongs '25)

9. New York Climate Week

In September, the Institute convened thought leaders, including former U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm, former Canadian Minister of Energy Jonathan Wilkinson, The Economist's Global Energy and Climate Innovation Editor Vijay Vaitheeswaran, and financial experts, to explore contemporary challenges in the energy landscape and the importance of U.S.-Canada collaboration. The dialogues reflected optimism that binational energy collaboration can leverage collective strengths to build a secure, sustainable, and prosperous energy future. Highlights from the discussion, co-hosted during New York Climate Week, are featured in Cross-Border Currents.

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The 'From Capitol Hill to Capital Markets' discussion in the Irving Institute Atrium. (Photo by Beam Lertbunnaphongs '25)

10. Class of 1972 Lectures Series

The Institute also welcomed esteemed alumni back to campus to share perspectives on the evolving energy landscape. In November, former U.S. Representative Ann McLane Kuster '78 and Abigail Ross Hopper '93, CEO of the Solar Energy Industries Association, discussed their insights on energy transitions over the past decade. A recap and recording are available in From Capitol Hill to the Capital Markets: Charting the Clean Energy Future, where Ross Hopper emphatically remarks on the future of solar and storage, "The market will win. This is America."

Together, these stories reflect the Irving Institute's continued dedication to advancing the clean energy transition and to fostering a multidisciplinary community of shared information and collaboration. 

"I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to our dedicated staff, Faculty Advisory Board, external Advisory Board, alumni, and engaged community members," shared Faculty Director Geoff Parker, reflecting on the year's progress. "With this collective commitment, I am filled with optimism as we continue a journey toward ever greater impact in the years ahead."