Stanford Students’ Say on Fossil Fuel Funding

Abstract

Stanford’s Doerr School of Sustainability’s ties to fossil fuel money are nothing new, but a critical voice has always been missing in this ongoing debate: that of the general student population. All but one of Doerr’s affiliate research programs receive funds from fossil fuel companies, and especially since the environmental school began to include “sustainability” in its name, activists have been protesting what they view as unsustainable, oily strings to corporations that are perpetrating the climate crisis. On the other end, energy researchers have been demanding to protect them and see this industry collaboration as invaluable in the climate fight. But, what does the average student think? As current and future researchers, students should have a say on whether they oppose certain funding sources. This paper analyzes a survey of over 400 random students that asked and quantified their detailed views of fossil fuel funding. Correlations between such views and perceptions toward Doerr, energy systems, and more are established. Although this issue is depicted as controversial, this survey suggests that the Stanford student population is much more aligned than one might expect, such that over 70% of respondents view fossil fuel funding as a net negative. Ultimately, students have strong and detailed opinions on this issue that must be heard.