November 28, 2023
The University of Oklahoma has received at total of $1 million in gifts to launch a new multidisciplinary sustainable energy systems program that will feature an SES certificate available to a multitude of majors across campus. The program received a $500,000 gift from the Schumacher Family in November and a $500,000 gift in September from Mewbourne Oil Co.
“I believe the SES program will address a critical and growing need of the energy industry – graduates with a broad multidisciplinary energy perspective that complements any number of traditional disciplinary fields of study,” said Kenneth Waits, president and CEO of Mewbourne Oil Co. “Graduates from this program will lead the way in making discoveries and innovations to provide affordable, secure energy – and do so in a manner that reduces our carbon footprint.”
“This cutting-edge program will further establish the University of Oklahoma as a national leader in energy, building on our legacy of excellence that began a century ago with the first petroleum program in the nation,” said OU President Joseph Harroz Jr. “We could not be happier with our enduring partnership with Mewbourne Oil Co. and their continued leadership and dedication to our students and the energy industry.”
André-Denis Wright, senior vice president and provost of the OU Norman campus, said, “The SES certificate program will be accessible to virtually any major on campus, helping students of all backgrounds and interests receive professional-level expertise in sustainable energy systems.”
John Antonio, interim dean of the Mewbourne College of Earth and Energy, is leading a campus-wide task force to develop the course requirements for the SES certificate program. The task force members come from truly diverse backgrounds, including Mewbourne College, Price College of Business, Gallogly College of Engineering, Dodge Family College of Arts and Sciences, College of Law, Gibbs College of Architecture, College of Atmospheric and Geographic Sciences, Jeannine Rainbolt College of Education, Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communication, and Weitzenhoffer College of Fine Arts.
“The ultimate vision is to navigate a future that meets societal needs for both energy and a livable environment,” Antonio said. “This new sustainable energy systems program will help us pursue this bold vision by integrating many areas of energy expertise across our campus.”
In addition to the certificate, the SES program will pursue cutting-edge graduate research in important areas such as carbon capture utilization and storage; hydrogen production transportation and use; enhanced hydrocarbon recovery; energy-related legal and policy matters; social aspects of emerging energy systems; economic and workforce opportunities for sustainable energy; geothermal energy; methane monitoring and mitigation; energy-efficient buildings and infrastructure; energy management and finance; carbon life-cycle analysis; energy storage; nuclear energy; electric power systems; and solar and wind energy.
The Mewbourne College of Earth and Energy improves people’s lives through research, education and service by studying Earth’s past and present, developing new energy tools and resources, and creating geoscientists and engineers who work across disciplines to address some of society’s most critical challenges.
Victoria Stephens is the marketing manager at the Mewbourne College of Earth and Energy. For media inquiries, you can email Victoria or call her at 405-325-8981.
