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For most of the past 70 years, Stanford's list of schools did not change. Then in 2022 the university added one. The Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability brought together earth science, energy, oceans, civil engineering and environmental policy under one roof, with a very large gift behind it. Our history of Stanford marks it as the university's newest school.
This page covers how the school began, how it is organized, where its buildings are and which of its talks and events a visitor can attend. It relies on the school's own website and Stanford's announcements.
Founded in 2022
Stanford announced the school on May 4, 2022. The headline number was a $1.1 billion gift from John and Ann Doerr, which Stanford called the largest gift in its history. Combined with other gifts, the school launched with $1.69 billion. John Doerr is the venture capitalist long associated with Kleiner Perkins on Sand Hill Road. Our Kleiner Perkins page covers the firm.
The school officially opened on September 1, 2022. Its inaugural dean is Arun Majumdar, a Stanford professor of mechanical engineering and of photon science, who holds the title Chester Naramore Dean. Stanford's 2022 announcement called it the university's first new school in 70 years. The school's own history page now says 75 years, so the figure depends on how you count.
At launch the school had about 90 existing faculty and planned to add as many as 60 more over 10 years.
Where it came from
The new school was built from existing parts. Its history page lists four main sources:
- Stanford Earth: the School of Earth, Energy and Environmental Sciences, founded in 1947. It closed when the Doerr School launched and its departments moved over.
- Civil and Environmental Engineering: transferred from the School of Engineering.
- The Woods Institute for the Environment: an interdisciplinary research institute.
- The Precourt Institute for Energy: Stanford's energy research institute.
The school's history page also dates its departments. Earth and Planetary Sciences and Civil and Environmental Engineering trace their roots to 1891, when Stanford opened. Energy Science and Engineering and Geophysics date from 1962. Earth Systems began in 1992. Oceans was established in 2022 and Environmental Social Sciences in 2023.
How the school is organized
Stanford's 2022 announcement described three parts: academic departments, interdisciplinary institutes and a Sustainability Accelerator meant to move research into technology and policy. The school's website shows that structure today.
| Part | Units |
|---|---|
| Departments | Civil and Environmental Engineering; Earth and Planetary Sciences; Earth System Science; Energy Science and Engineering; Environmental Social Sciences; Geophysics; Oceans |
| Interdisciplinary programs | Earth Systems Program; Emmett Interdisciplinary Program in Environment and Resources (E-IPER); Change Leadership for Sustainability Program (SUST) |
| Institutes | Precourt Institute for Energy; Woods Institute for the Environment |
| Sustainability Accelerator | Includes the TomKat Center for Sustainable Energy and a spinouts program |
| Other | Sustainable Societies Initiative; industrial affiliates programs |
Courses offered by the school carry the code SUSTAIN in Stanford's course catalog. The Oceans department connects the school to Hopkins Marine Station on Monterey Bay, which the school lists among its research facilities.
Where the school lives
At its opening, Stanford said the school would be housed mainly in three buildings:
- The Mitchell Earth Sciences Building, long the home of Stanford's earth scientists.
- The Green Earth Sciences Building.
- The Yang and Yamazaki Environment and Energy Building, known as Y2E2, in the Science and Engineering Quad.
Over time the school plans to gather its programs into a sustainability commons anchored by two new buildings, along with Y2E2 and Green. Our Science and Engineering Quad guide covers the area around Y2E2. Many of the event addresses on the school's calendar sit along Via Ortega and Panama Mall in this part of campus.
Public events
The school runs a busy calendar. Its events page in late October 2026 listed regular seminar series alongside one-time talks. The page does not mark every event as open to the public. Some are clearly limited, such as a town hall for one department or an information session for Stanford undergraduates. Others are plainly open, such as the Educational Farm's autumn festival, which said "all are welcome." Check each listing before you go.
Regular series
- Stanford Energy Seminar: run by the Precourt Institute, Mondays from 4:30 to 5:20 p.m. at 443 Via Ortega. Listed dates included November 2, 9, 16 and 30, 2026.
- Dean's Lecture Series: afternoon talks at 475 Via Ortega. The economist Partha Dasgupta was listed for November 2, 2026.
- Geophysics and planetary science seminars: lunchtime talks at 397 Panama Mall.
- Oceans seminars: held at Hopkins Marine Station in Pacific Grove and livestreamed to Y2E2.
Selected one-time events listed for fall 2026
| Date | Event | Where |
|---|---|---|
| November 11 | Center for Just Environmental Futures inaugural distinguished lecture with 'Aulani Wilhelm, 4:30 to 6 p.m. | 425 Santa Teresa Street |
| November 17 | Talk on community-based sunflower star recovery, 6 to 7 p.m. | Hopkins Marine Station, Pacific Grove |
| November 19 | "Two Views of the Chinese Coast" with historian Kären Wigen, 4 to 6 p.m. | David Rumsey Map Center |
| November 20 | "Living Minerals: Nature, Trade and Power in the Race for Lithium," 1:30 p.m. | 582 Alvarado Row |
| December 2 | E-IPER autumn master's capstone symposium | 473 Via Ortega and Zoom |
The calendar also lists exhibits. "Water in the West" was on view at Branner Library at 397 Panama Mall. "Emergent Properties" was at the David Rumsey Map Center, which also runs guided tours. See our David Rumsey Map Center guide.
Hands-on: the Educational Farm
The easiest way for a visitor to take part is at the O'Donohue Family Stanford Educational Farm, which posts on the school's calendar. In fall 2026 it listed volunteer sessions on weekday mornings from 9 a.m. to noon and on weekend mornings from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Our Educational Farm guide explains how volunteering works.
Studying at the school
The Doerr School teaches undergraduates and graduate students. Its interdisciplinary undergraduate program, Earth Systems, dates from 1992. E-IPER, the Emmett Interdisciplinary Program in Environment and Resources, trains graduate students who work across fields. The school also lists a Change Leadership for Sustainability Program under the code SUST. Its fall 2026 calendar included a November 13 information session for Stanford undergraduates about a SUST coterminal master's degree, there titled Sustainability Science and Practice. At its opening the school said new degree programs would be announced over the following years.
For prospective students visiting campus, the school's buildings are an easy add-on to an admission tour. Our page for prospective students covers tours and information sessions.
The school and the campus energy system
The school studies energy and climate. The campus it sits on is also a working example. Stanford's heat recovery plant has been online since 2015. It and the two solar generating stations that power it are university facilities rather than part of the school. They are still worth seeing alongside the school's research. Our page on Stanford's Central Energy Facility explains the system and how to book a tour.
Good to know
- Most seminars are held in classrooms on weekdays. Pay visitor parking through ParkMobile or arrive by Caltrain and the free Marguerite shuttle.
- Talks marked "registration required" usually need an online sign-up in advance.
- Some talks are streamed or held on Zoom. Our page on public lectures at Stanford lists other free talks on campus.
Frequently asked questions
When was the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability founded?
Stanford announced the school on May 4, 2022 and it officially opened on September 1, 2022. Arun Majumdar, a professor of mechanical engineering and of photon science, was named its inaugural dean.
How much did John Doerr give to Stanford?
John and Ann Doerr gave $1.1 billion, which Stanford called the largest gift in its history when it was announced in May 2022. With other gifts the school launched with $1.69 billion in funding.
What departments are in the Doerr School of Sustainability?
The school lists seven departments: Civil and Environmental Engineering, Earth and Planetary Sciences, Earth System Science, Energy Science and Engineering, Environmental Social Sciences, Geophysics and Oceans. It also runs the Earth Systems Program, E-IPER and the Change Leadership for Sustainability Program.
Can the public attend Doerr School events?
Many talks are held on campus and some are explicitly open to all, such as the Educational Farm's autumn festival. The school's events calendar does not mark every listing as public, so check each event for registration or audience limits. Seminar series such as the weekly Stanford Energy Seminar are a good place to start.
Is the Doerr School the same as Stanford Earth?
It replaced it. The School of Earth, Energy and Environmental Sciences, known as Stanford Earth and founded in 1947, closed when the Doerr School launched. Its departments joined the new school along with Civil and Environmental Engineering and two institutes.