Bill Dingus ’81, a Rice University alumnus, and his wife Mary Anne have pledged $1 million to support the university’s Human Impacts on the Earth Fund, dedicated to mitigating and addressing the negative environmental effects caused by human activities on the planet. Additionally, the Dingus family is matching other donors’ contributions to the fund up to $250,000.
The Dingus’ donation enables the launch of the Earth and Planetary Opportunities in Research (EXPLORE) program, a new initiative offered through the Department of Earth, Environmental and Planetary Sciences (EEPS) that allows undergraduates of any major hands-on experience in research projects related to Earth and space. Moreover, the fund will support fellowships for graduate students working in the broad areas of environmental science and sustainability, inspired by the research legacy of Rice Emeritus Professor John Anderson.
“Given the environmental challenges we Earthlings face, it makes perfect sense to empower some Rice students to help solve the problem,” said Bill, who earned his Bachelor of Arts in geology from Rice in 1981.
EXPLORE students will collaborate with EEPS faculty or affiliates to identify research, experiential learning or internship opportunities with the goal of gaining valuable insight into the scientific challenges of the modern world. This year’s cohort of “EXPLORERS” are studying a range of subjects, from emerging carbon markets to Trojan asteroids to geothermal energy systems.
In addition, the fund will finance experiential courses, interdisciplinary seminars and vital equipment and will reside in the Wiess School of Natural Sciences to be managed by EEPS Chair Juli Morgan.
“We’re incredibly grateful to the Dingus family for their generosity,” Morgan said. “Their support allows us to offer life-changing research opportunities to students, empowering them to explore critical societal issues including climate change, natural resource management, environmental issues and sustainability.”
For Bill and Mary Anne, their gift is also a tribute to their family’s long-standing connection to Rice. Their son, along with Bill’s three sisters, also attended the university, and Mary Anne’s father, the late Charles Duncan, was a trustee emeritus of Rice.
“My father believed that investing in young people, particularly Rice students, was the best investment he could make,” Mary Anne said. “He believed that Rice’s leadership in science, technology, research, music and public policy could build a brighter future and have global impact.”
For anyone wishing to support the Human Impacts on the Earth Fund and have their donation matched dollar for dollar by Bill and Mary Anne, you can join their efforts with a gift by visiting the Human Impacts on the Earth Fund website.