ASU launches Global Institute for the Future of Energy with $50 million gift from alumnus Robert L. Zorich

HOUSTON — Arizona State University on Tuesday announced the launch of the Global Institute for the Future of Energy, established with a $50 million gift from Thunderbird School of Global Management at ASU alumnus Robert L. Zorich, founder and managing partner of EnCap Investments.

The world faces a silent energy crisis. Billions of people in developing nations are striving for more power to improve daily life, and those in developed nations keep expanding their use of energy, now fueled by the adoption of AI and the data centers needed to drive it. The result: Today’s energy systems are straining under unprecedented pressure.

The new institute is designed to serve as a vanguard for energy education and innovation, advancing practical, fact-based solutions to global energy challenges. Rather than espousing a particular ideology, the institute will arm learners — from curious kindergartners to seasoned professionals — with a practical understanding of energy, including its complexities, trade-offs and global importance on energy systems.. They will learn the history of energy development, explore the technological advantages and costs of different sources of energy, and grapple with the realities of access and effectiveness, which vary across the globe.

“ASU has long been a pioneer in building bold, pragmatic solutions for the future,” said Zorich, a 1974 Thunderbird graduate. “President Michael Crow has taken a visionary and action-oriented approach to positioning the university as a leading center for research, educational excellence and global influence. I was excited to fund the formation of this energy institute at ASU because of the university’s unique ability to scale and reach a global audience.

“This is an opportunity to have global impact on the future of energy, and ASU is uniquely positioned for that. I think anyone who has a conscience wants to make the world a better place. And if you can do that, why wouldn’t you do that?”

The institute will be jointly led by ASU’s Julie Ann Global Futures Laboratory and Thunderbird School of Global Management, with programming designed to expand access to energy information and develop practical solutions that support human flourishing while advancing global energy systems.

“Energy is central to nearly every facet of our daily lives, and we have to prepare now for an evolving energy future,” ASU President Michael M. Crow said. “With the rapid growth of AI and other fast-moving innovations, we have a responsibility to ready the next generation of energy leaders and solutions. Bob Zorich’s visionary investment will empower our global understanding of energy, our vital literacy and how we can work together to develop the best paths forward.”

Zorich’s gift will establish:

• A chair position for the institute, who will also serve as the director of the institute.
• A global energy fellowship fund.
• A global energy scholarship fund.
• SHARE energy fellowships.

In addition, the gift will help sponsor “Energy Switch,” an Arizona PBS point-counterpoint series produced by Switch Energy Alliance, which brings together global experts from government, academia, NGOs and industry to debate pressing energy topics.

The institute will begin recruiting leadership and staff in its first year, while also developing curriculum for K–12, undergraduate, graduate and executive learners, as well as the public. In its second year, the institute will launch a fellowship and executive-in-residence program, bringing industry leaders directly into research, teaching and community engagement. It will also roll out a dynamic lineup of public programs — from a global energy conference and public lectures to online talks, hackathons and summer camps — sparking conversations and innovation in Arizona and beyond.

“Energy is at the center of every society’s future,” said Peter Schlosser, vice president and vice provost of Global Futures at ASU. “With this gift, we are creating an institute that will educate, innovate, and lead globally — while grounding solutions in facts, not rhetoric.”

The launch event was held in Houston with Zorich, ASU President Michael Crow and university leadership, and industry experts.

Changing Futures campaign

This gift supports ASU’s Changing Futures campaign, a global effort to create lasting impact.