The University of Cincinnati (UC) has received a $158 million software donation from global energy technology company SLB, providing students and faculty access to industry-standard digital platforms used by leading energy firms worldwide.
The donation is part of UC’s broader effort to equip students with the tools and experience needed to meet growing demand in geoscience and energy-related fields. “Subsurface energy sources, both conventional and unconventional, satisfy over 80% of total U.S. energy needs, and mastering the subsurface is central to the nation’s energy future,” said UC Professor of Hydrogeology Reza Soltanian, who helped secure the gift.
The advanced software will allow UC students to develop 3D models for groundwater flow, hydrogen storage, and geological layers—skills that are increasingly valuable in sectors such as environmental engineering, renewable energy, and resource management. “Students who have worked with these software packages will be highly sought after by employers in a number of fields,” said Geosciences Department Head Craig Dietsch.
The software will also support research at UC Digital Futures’ new Data Visualization Lab and contribute to the upcoming Subsurface Energy Institute, led by Soltanian. The institute will serve as a hub for research into geothermal energy, hydrogen storage, lithium extraction, and shale gas—key areas for Ohio’s energy economy.
“Energy decisions today are data decisions,” Soltanian said. “This gift allows UC to integrate geoscience, engineering, and advanced computing in one digital environment, preparing our students to drive the energy transition.”
UC Vice President for Research Patrick Limbach said the initiative aligns with the university’s long-term innovation goals. “Oil and gas remain globally important, but the real story is the rapid rise of new energy frontiers,” he said. “This is exactly the kind of forward-looking applied research that Digital Futures was designed to foster.”
