Dartmouth College Announces Creation of Arthur L. Irving Institute for Energy and Society
HANOVER, N.H. – Arthur Irving and his family, along with Irving Oil and the Arthur L. Irving Family Foundation, have made an $80 million donation to Dartmouth College, an Ivy League liberal arts university in New Hampshire, to fund the creation of the Arthur L. Irving Institute for Energy and Society.
The college says the institute will “advance the understanding and knowledge of a resource that powers modern life and is directly related to society’s standard of living and success” and “will prepare future generations of energy leaders and advance humanity’s understanding of the field, driving change in the intelligent production, supply, and use of energy.”
“Meeting the energy demands of the future is one of the most complex and urgent challenges facing humankind. We need to provide abundant, affordable energy to allow for continued economic growth across the globe, particularly in developing nations, so that billions can be lifted out of poverty,” says Dartmouth president Phil Hanlon, in a release.
“How we produce and provide access to sustainable forms of energy will shape life in the coming decades. Success defies easy or simplistic solutions. Instead, it requires a multi-dimensional approach that integrates science, technology, public policy, geopolitics, and business. In other words, it requires bringing the power and rigor of the liberal arts to bear on a complex problem.”
The lead gift of $80 million to launch the institute was made by Irving Oil, the Arthur L. Irving Family Foundation, Arthur L. Irving, his wife, Sandra Irving, and their daughter, Sarah Irving. The gift is the latest investment in Dartmouth programs by the family. Arthur and Sandra Irving have provided Dartmouth student scholarships and faculty support for more than a decade. Additional donations of $33 million have been committed to the project, bringing the total raised to $113 million. Dartmouth aims to raise a total $160 million to fund the institute.
“This is a special day for all of us and I am honored to be a part of it,” said Arthur Irving, chairman of Irving Oil, in a release. “The world of energy is ever-changing and we all have an important role to play. Dartmouth has long committed to the study of some of the world’s most pressing problems and to making a difference. The Institute of Energy and Society will differentiate Dartmouth as a leader in this field of study.”
The institute will look at energy and society from four perspectives: technology and science; society and the environment; business and economics; and geopolitics. New research initiatives and programs will include nearly every academic department in an integrated, cross-disciplinary manner, driven by faculty interest.
The Arthur L. Irving Institute for Energy and Society is expected to open in 2020.