From the Institute Executive Director

"How do we bring diverse knowledge systems together for sustainable energy and climate? I think it's a competitive advantage… the more knowledge you bring in, the better you are." This quote is from a talk on the critical need to center Indigenous knowledge in Arctic research that Dr. Melody Brown Burkins, Director of the Institute of Arctic Studies at Dartmouth's Dickey Center, gave at the first session of the Dartmouth Faculty Seminar Series on Climate and Energy in February. It also perfectly captures the approach the Irving Institute is taking to connecting, convening, and catalyzing energy and climate research at Dartmouth.

We are delighted to host this new series by and for Dartmouth faculty that seeks to bring together colleagues from across disciplines to learn about each other's climate and energy research. The February 17 session, which featured short talks on current research from Dr. Burkins and Associate Professor of Geography Justin Mankin, who spoke about his current work modeling climate damage liability, was deeply interesting and stimulating. The talks themselves were exciting — our faculty are doing highly impactful, cutting-edge work! — but the conversations that took place among the attendees were exciting as well. These opportunities for connection, conversation, and, ultimately, cross-disciplinary collaboration are what the Institute is working to foster.

We hope we'll see you at an upcoming talk or program, and are looking forward to the many conversations and connections yet to come.

~ April M. Salas

Connect with Dartmouth at CERAWeek

Dartmouth is headed to CERAWeek, one of the world's largest energy conferences, in Houston, Texas, March 6-10. Dartmouth panelists will include Irving Institute Affiliates Professor Erin Mayfield (Thayer School), Professor Mukul Sharma (Earth Sciences), and Thayer School Dean Alexis Abramson and alumni Thad Hill, TU’95 CEO of Calpine and Abigail Hopper ’93, CEO Solar Energy Industry Association.

Dartmouth alumni, please note two opportunities for you during the conference:

There is a special rate for Dartmouth alumni to attend the CERAWeek Innovation Agora. (Check out the flyer or register directly with the input code:  ASN_Dartmouth_AGORA1250.) And we hope you'll be able to join the Dartmouth delegation, including Irving Institute Executive Director April Salas, for a special informal alumni meet-up in the ClearTech Commons on Tuesday, March 7 from 6:30-7:30 p.m.

If you're planning to be there and would like to connect with the Irving Institute, please let us know. We would love to see you in Houston next week!

From New Hampshire to Uganda: Dartmouth Humanitarian Engineering Team Partners with Uganda Christian University on Solar Water Heater Project

Noah Daniel ’22 and his fellow Dartmouth Humanitarian Engineers Ethan Aulwes ’22 and Veronica Yarovinsky ’24 knew they had a solid plan in place to build the solar water heater they designed to help offset firewood usage in cooking in the kitchen of a university in Uganda. They and other members of the DHelios Project, through many hours of planning, trial and error, consultation with advisors, and persistence, managed to build a functional prototype that could heat water to 72 degrees Celsius — even in the sub-zero temperatures of February in New Hampshire. However, the team also knew that an important part of any plan is flexibility: new information, challenges getting supplies, input from users all may result in the need to make adjustments.  

And so when the group, accompanied by Irving Institute Senior Advisor Stephen Doig ’82, traveled to Mukono, Uganda, home to Uganda Christian University, they knew they'd need to be prepared to adjust their plans and they were excited to find out what the specifics would look like. Read more.

Charged Up: 'Energy Currents' Discussion Series Introduces Undergraduates to Climate and Energy Fundamentals

In the United States, we tend not to think much about energy unless something isn't working — the power goes out, fuel prices skyrocket, and so on. To help move the needle on climate change, young adults who will soon be out in the world, leading, making decisions for themselves, their companies, and their communities, need to be prepared to "see" energy — both in terms of how it supports our modern lives and how it contributes to global warming.

"Part of our goal is to make the invisible visible," explained Dr. Megan Litwhiler, Manager of Academic Initiatives at the Arthur L. Irving Institute for Energy and Society, "helping students to see where and how energy impacts their lives and the lives of their communities and planet so that when they graduate, even if they don't go into 'energy' careers, they are better prepared to make informed decisions and choices." Read more

New Energy Summer Summit Returns for Second Year

The Institute is excited to announce that we will be hosting our second annual New Energy Summer Summit on July 23-26, 2023. The Summit brings together early-career energy researchers from around the globe to Hanover for three days of connecting, collaborating, sharing, and learning. PhD students, postdocs, and assistant professors in the energy and climate space and across disciplines are encouraged to apply. Learn more

March 8: "Productive Uses of Decentralized Renewable Energy"

Dartmouth Energy News

April Salas on NH Clean Energy Panel: Irving Institute Executive Director April Salas was an expert panelist on the "A Clean Energy for NH: How Do We Make the Transition?" event on February 16 hosted by the University of New Hampshire.

Climate Conundrum: Building Green Energy Facilities May Produce Substantial Carbon Emissions: Corey Lesk, a current Dartmouth Climate Modeling and Impacts Group postdoc, co-authored this study while a PhD at Columbia on the need to account for the carbon impact of building energy infrastructure early in the energy transition.

It’s Possible to Reach Net-zero Carbon Emissions. Here’s How: Hodgson Family Assistant Professor of Engineering Erin Mayfield is quoted in this Science News article.

Leading Thoughts: From Climate Science to Climate Policy: Thayer Dean Alexis Abramson speaks with Professor Erin Mayfield about her work shaping US energy legislation.

Sustainability Renovations Underway at Rauner Library: Energy efficiency upgrades at one of Dartmouth's libraries

Artificial Intelligence Being Used to Answer Questions About Sea Level Rise:

Evans Family Distinguished Professor of Earth Sciences and Institute Affiliate Mathieu Morlinghem is quoted as part of the research team in this CBS News article.

Student Interest in Studying Abroad Returns to Pre-Pandemic Levels: The Institute's new Baltic LEAP (language, energy, and politics) foreign study program collaboration with the Government and Russian Language Departments is highlighted in this The Dartmouth article.

Dartmouth to Hold Sustainability Summit: Working groups made up of students, alumni, and area residents will meet as they present their goals and strategies aimed at reducing negative campus environmental impacts and creating alignment for climate action.

Students Create Proposal to Reduce Montgomery House Energy Consumption: The Dartmouth highlights an ENGS90 project focused on energy retrofits. The project team will soon have their poster on display in the Irving Institute atrium!