The College of Chemistry at the University of California, Berkeley is making major new commitments to advance research and education in sustainable green chemistry, thanks to the financial support of The Dow Chemical Company Foundation and ongoing collaboration with The Dow Chemical Company.

First, the College has appointed chemical engineering Professor Alexis T. Bell to the newly established Dow Chair in Sustainable Chemistry. Bell is internationally recognized for his pioneering work in devising new catalysts to protect the environment. The College has also established the new Berkeley Center for Green Chemistry - a cooperation among the College of Chemistry, the Haas School of Business, the School of Law, the College of Natural Resources, and the School of Public Health. Under the umbrella of the Berkeley Institute for the Environment, the Center brings together, for the first time, a multidisciplinary approach to research and education in sustainable chemistry practice. Combining the expertise of chemical and toxicology scientists with economists and policy experts is at the heart of the Chair's mission.

The Dow Chair in Sustainable Chemistry will provide flexible funding for Bell’s research and for supporting graduate students. A member of both the National Academy of Engineering and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, Bell was recently recognized as one of the "100 Engineers of the Modern Era" by the American Institute of Chemical Engineers.

"I am delighted to learn of my appointment to the Dow Chair," says Bell, who has authored more than 500 publications. "This support will enable me to initiate new projects on advanced catalysts that would otherwise not be possible. I am also looking forward to interacting with researchers at Dow on topics of mutual interest."

"Dow is deeply committed to sustainability, and we are very excited to be partnering with Berkeley's distinguished College of Chemistry in advancing both research and education in this field," said David E. Kepler, Dow's executive vice president and chief sustainability officer. "Our collective future depends on educating the next generation of students to think deeply and broadly about sustainability and to devise new products and solutions that will address the interconnected social, economic, and environmental challenges."

Plans for the Center for Green Chemistry include research collaborations among investigators from different disciplines, and education across disciplinary boundaries. The Center is working toward a new minor in sustainability for undergraduates and a designated emphasis in sustainability for graduate students. Both would require students to take coursework in subjects related to green chemistry that are outside their primary disciplines. Expressing his appreciation to Dow for supporting Berkeley's efforts in sustainability, College of Chemistry Dean Richard A. Mathies commented, "The College has an obligation and an opportunity to provide the knowledge and information and education necessary so graduates who work for chemical companies, or the government, or advocacy groups will have a basic understanding of chemistry, chemical principles, sustainability, and toxicology. Academia, industry, and the government all have a responsibility for building a sustainable future aimed at increasing the safety of chemicals and of chemical products and processes."

The College of Chemistry has an existing seminar program launched through a grant from The Dow Chemical Company Foundation as part of the Sustainable Products and Solutions Program (http://www.spsp.berkeley.edu), a collaboration of the College of Chemistry and the Haas School of Business. Now the College is embarking on a program to redesign both its curriculum and laboratories for undergraduate courses in chemistry. The College's program in 21st Century Chemical Sciences Instruction will rebuild the labs to conserve energy and reduce chemical waste, and the experiments will also teach the students to think about the concepts and practice of sustainable chemistry as a positive solution to issues of global warming, natural resource depletion, and the environment.

About Dow
Dow is a diversified chemical company that combines the power of science and technology with the "Human Element" to constantly improve what is essential to human progress. The Company delivers a broad range of products and services to customers in approximately 160 countries, connecting chemistry and innovation with the principles of sustainability to help provide everything from fresh water, food and pharmaceuticals to paints, packaging and personal care products. In 2008, Dow had annual sales of $57.5 billion and employed approximately 46,000 people worldwide. The Company has 150 manufacturing sites in 35 countries and produces approximately 3,300 products. On April 1, 2009, Dow acquired Rohm and Haas Company, a global specialty materials company with sales of $10 billion in 2008, 98 manufacturing sites in 30 countries and approximately 15,000 employees worldwide. References to "Dow" or the "Company" mean The Dow Chemical Company and its consolidated subsidiaries unless otherwise expressly noted. More information about Dow can be found at www.dow.com.

OLD - Dow Chemical Company

OLD - Dow Chemical Company

With annual sales of $54 billion and 46,000 employees worldwide, Dow is a diversified chemical company that combines the power of science and technology with the "Human Element" to constantly improve what is essential to human progress. The Company delivers a broad range of products and services to customers in around 160 countries, connecting chemistry and innovation with the principles of sustainability to help provide everything from fresh water, food and pharmaceuticals to paints, packaging and personal care products. References to "Dow" or the "Company" mean The Dow Chemical Company and its consolidated subsidiaries unless otherwise expressly noted.