Dow-UQ sustainable engineering research centre opened

The University of Queensland’s Dow Centre for Sustainable Engineering Innovation was officially opened at the St Lucia campus in Brisbane today (17 December).

The Dow Chemical Company chairman and chief executive officer Dr Andrew N. Liveris said the Dow-UQ partnership was a mutually beneficial, value-adding collaboration with a global impact.

“This centre will serve as a breakthrough catalyst, combining cutting-edge expertise across multiple areas with the resources of a world-class research university,” Dr Liveris said.

“From sustainable chemistry to advanced lightweight materials, UQ Dow Centre scientists are developing solutions to global challenges and attracting international attention to key sustainability issues.”

Dr Liveris is a UQ chemical engineering graduate.

UQ Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Peter Høj said the centre would enhance the University’s capabilities to foster innovation in developing sustainable outcomes.

“The centre brings together several of UQ’s leading research and teaching organisations, including the School of Chemical Engineering, the Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology and the Global Change Institute,” Professor Høj said.

“With a global focus, the Dow Centre is developing and applying advanced quantitative methods for evaluating new sustainable processes for the production and use of energy, water, food and chemicals.”

Centre director Professor Eric McFarland is internationally recognised for his research in chemical science related to energy and chemical conversions.

“I am thrilled to be part of a team at UQ which is using science and conceptual process engineering to define how new processes might have significant impact on global sustainability,” he said.

“This work goes hand-in-hand with techno-economic analysis, to closely monitor the affordability and economic effects of any new process.  

”Sustainability means allowing our global population freedom and opportunities for increasing prosperity while also maintaining a thriving natural environment.”

Dow announced in 2012 that it would join with UQ to develop the new research centre.

Watch a video on that announcement here.

Media: Madelene Flanagan, UQ Faculty of Engineering, Architecture and Information Technology, +61 7 3365 8525, m.flanagan@uq.edu.au.