The mission of the United States Studies Centre at the University of Sydney is to increase understanding of the United
States in Australia. Spanning the study of politics and policy, economics and business, culture and society, the core
activities of the Centre include postgraduate degrees and undergraduate teaching; academic research and research
training; policy analysis and commentary; business leadership forums; and public education and community outreach.
15 February 2010
MEDIA RELEASE
US Studies Centre announces Dow Sustainability Program
The United States Studies Centre at the University of Sydney is pleased to announce the launch of a
three-year research program on sustainability made possible by US$2,000,000 in support from The
Dow Chemical Company Foundation in the United States.
The Dow Sustainability Program will bring together academic and policy experts from Australia and
the US to develop action-oriented solutions to a range of sustainability challenges concerning
energy, water, food and biodiversity that are technologically innovative, commercially scalable and
politically viable.
Chief Executive of the US Studies Centre Professor Geoffrey Garrett said the Dow Program will focus
on translating remarkable advances in the science and technology of sustainability into outcomes
that will benefit Australia, the US and the world. “I am so pleased that Dow, a global company at the
cutting edge of sustainability technology and sustainable business practice, has been willing to
provide such generous support to the Centre,” Professor Garrett said.
The program is being developed by Robert Hill, Adjunct Professor in Sustainability at the US Studies
Centre, former Minister for the Environment and former Ambassador to the United Nations. The
Program’s first research appointment is Dr Susan Pond AM, Adjunct Professor of Pharmacology at
the University of Sydney and former Managing Director of Johnson and Johnson Research Australia.
Dr Pond’s research will focus on bio sequestration and bio fuels, with an initial project assessing the
commercial potential and appropriate public policies regarding large scale algae farming.
Chairman, CEO and President of The Dow Chemical Company, Australian-born Andrew Liveris, will
formally announce the launch of the program at a private lunch in Sydney today.
“Dow is working hard to deliver sustainable solutions to the rest of the world, and we are
continuously looking to accelerate progress through collaborations with partners like the US Studies
Centre, the University of Sydney and the American Australian Association," Mr Liveris said. “The Dow
Sustainability Program at the Centre reinforces our 2015 Sustainability Goals and our commitment to
protect the planet we live on.”
The Dow Program will be advised by a group of international experts and will leverage the
considerable academic resources in the agricultural, environmental, life and physical sciences of the
University of Sydney and other universities in Australia and the US.
The mission of the United States Studies Centre at the University of Sydney is to increase understanding of the United
States in Australia. Spanning the study of politics and policy, economics and business, culture and society, the core
activities of the Centre include postgraduate degrees and undergraduate teaching; academic research and research
training; policy analysis and commentary; business leadership forums; and public education and community outreach.
Page 2 of 2
The Dow Program on Sustainability in association with the Institute of Sustainable Solutions and the
Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources at the University of Sydney will develop strategies
to combat soil degradation, which is reducing agricultural productivity around the world and
increasing carbon emissions.
Other potential research initiatives include coastal management, rainforest biodiversity and fresh
water systems.
For more information about The Dow Chemical Company, visit www.dow.com.
Ends
Media Enquiries:
Nina Fudala
USSC
Tel: 0409 321 918
Email: n.fudala@bigpond.com
Linda Lim
Dow Southeast Asia, Australia & New Zealand
Tel: +65 6830 4527
Email: llim2@dow.com
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