A new sustainability center is being built at the Technion Institute of Technology, in Haifa, thanks to a $50 million donation.
Students and faculty at the new sustainability center will uncover new ways to maintain global growth, while protecting the planet and its resources for future generations.
The Stewart and Lynda Resnick Sustainability Center for Catalysis, named after the American philanthropists who pledged the donation, will help recruit young scientists and promote research collaborations with academia and industry.
The center is part of the university’s response to the rapidly growing population and longer life expectancies that will result in more than 10 billion people living on Earth in the year 2050.
It is seeking innovative solutions to produce food, medicine, and other products because of the accelerated depletion of essential natural resources.
The center aims to reduce our negative impact on nature and its resources.
The 65,000 sq ft building will have large, open-space laboratories and can be adapted to accommodate future developments in scientific technology equipment.
Its unique architectural design aims to foster collaboration and interaction among researchers.
“The climate crisis is one of humanity’s greatest challenges in the 21st century,” said Technion President Professor Uri Sivan.
“Coping with this challenge demands many different scientific capabilities. The Technion has recently created a revolution in dealing with major global challenges based on the understanding that bold research achievements require interdisciplinary efforts that link researchers and students from varied scientific and technological fields.
“The Stewart and Lynda Resnick Sustainability Center for Catalysis will encompass a wide range of scientific expertise and enable us to meet the climate crisis and sustainable development challenges.”
Stewart Resnick said: “The daily impact of environmental change is seen through every aspect of our world.
“We need great minds across the globe working to preserve the planet to prepare for the needs of future generations. It’s now or never.
“Through the resources, dedication, and efforts that will emerge from this sustainability and catalysis center, we will confront the climate crisis rather than hide from it.”
