Today’s students are a critical part of tomorrow’s expanded geothermal deployment, and GEODE is working to ensure the next wave of geothermal experts are ready to collaborate with the oil and gas (O&G) industry. Throughout 2025, GEODE created multiple pathways for students to engage directly with geothermal challenges and opportunities. GEODE hosted two Datathons for students to participate in unique challenges that used real, field-case analyses; George Stutz Student Days, a hands-on, three-day experience dedicated to shared challenges and opportunities in the O&G and geothermal sectors; and an Internship Program that placed 14 college students at energy companies where they’ve worked on innovative geothermal projects.
To close out Phase I of GEODE’s student programming and strengthen the connections formed throughout the year, GEODE also convened participants from its programs at a shared capstone experience. GEODE brought 34 university students from across the country and across disciplines to Houston, Texas, to experience the inaugural Geothermal Innovation Summit, a centerpiece of the 2025 Society of Petroleum Engineers’ Annual Technical Conference & Exhibition (ATCE) hosted by Project InnerSpace. The summit offered far more than a conference agenda: it provided a first-hand look at the growing momentum, innovation, and career opportunities shaping the future of geothermal energy.
For many of the students, this marked their first opportunity to engage directly with the innovators, engineers, and companies shaping the next wave of geothermal development. The summit featured a series of high-impact panels and technical presentations, a Geothermal Startup Village, an immersive virtual reality experience, and a GeoMap™ showcase, along with high-impact networking that brought students face-to-face with founders, researchers, and industry leaders.
Students gathered for a lively lunch that became a hub of conversation and connection. Students traded insights from the morning sessions, debated emerging geothermal approaches, and drew clear connections between the summit’s themes and their own research. The gathering fostered a strong sense of community among peers poised to help shape the future of geothermal.
The program concluded with a fireside chat with energy investor and philanthropist John Arnold, who reflected on energy markets, building transformative ventures, and the pathways toward a new era of geothermal abundance. For GEODE students, the discussion underscored the growing role geothermal can play in a firm, resilient, and scalable energy future.
Throughout the day, students expressed both surprise and excitement at the scale and breadth of innovation underway in geothermal. For many, the summit also sharpened their sense of purpose. Shiv Mangal Gupta, a PhD student at Virginia Tech, captured the impact of the experience:
“What surprised me most was the sheer scale of innovation happening in geothermal energy. I feel more interested in pursuing a career in geothermal energy after attending the summit. The event reinforced my excitement by showing just how much innovation and momentum is happening in this field — from large-scale industrial power plants to small systems that could power individual homes.”
Other students echoed this sentiment, describing renewed motivation and clarity around their career paths. Amjd Al Rahbi, Petroleum Engineering student at the Colorado School of Mines, shared that the summit “sparked new ideas about how geothermal could complement solar in hybrid renewable systems, something I’d love to explore further in future projects or research.”
Cinar Turhan, PhD candidate at the University of Texas, reflected on how he connected with one of the geothermal startups featured at the summit. As he shared, “I have always been interested in pursuing a career in geothermal energy. Thanks to the GEODE program, I had the opportunity to initiate this path. Networking with leaders, engineers, project managers, and researchers broadened my perspective and helped me discover many other potential pathways within the geothermal sector.”
This enthusiasm reflects exactly why GEODE is committed to building a national network of students fluent in both geothermal and oil and gas disciplines. By connecting students to cutting-edge technology, industry leaders, and real-world challenges, GEODE helps bridge the gap between academic training and workforce readiness.
GEODE congratulates the 34 students who attended the inaugural Geothermal Innovation Summit and represented the program with curiosity, professionalism, and passion!