.gif?width=220&height=220&mediaprotectionhash=27a2c7b682a980edd98804d5ef3ab0afa2e746bbcbde7192e62ce4a3fe797500&ext=.gif)
BHP Billiton, University College London Launch Natural Resources Initiative
06/13/2011 - BHP Billiton and University College London have agreed to establish an Institute for Sustainable Resources in London, U.K., and an International Energy Policy Institute in Adelaide, Australia, to drive research into the economic, legal, environmental, technological, and cultural issues faced by the resources sector.
BHP Billiton and University College London (UCL) have agreed to establish an Institute for Sustainable Resources in London, U.K., and an International Energy Policy Institute in Adelaide, Australia.
The two new institutes are expected to drive research into the economic, legal, environmental, technological, and cultural issues faced by the resources sector. They also will provide a framework within which expertise can be shared and innovative responses developed.
Under the terms of the agreement, BHP Billiton Sustainable Communities, a charity established by BHP Billiton as part of its community investment program, will provide UCL with US$10 million over a five-year period to establish the institutes and fund academic research, fellowships, and scholarships, as well as the appointment of a new Chair in Sustainable Global Resources and a Chair in International Energy Policy.
BHP Billiton Group Executive and Chief Executive of Non-Ferrous, Dr. Andrew Mackenzie, said the funding agreement reflected the company's commitment to supporting education wherever it operates and added: "The two new institutes will spur new thinking into the complex issues created by the growing demand for commodities and provide a new forum in which industry and the research community can collaborate."
UCL Vice-Provosts Prof. Michael Worton, Prof. David Price, and Prof. Stephen Caddick will lead the initiative at UCL: "Our relationship with BHP Billiton will bring our students and researchers closer to the trends that are transforming energy and global natural resources management,” Worton said.
University College London (UCL) is a multi-faculty global university, currently ranked 4th in the world in the annual Times Higher Education-QS World University Rankings and top of the most recent ranking of UK Research Council awards. Founded in 1826, UCL has acknowledged multidisciplinary strengths and research capabilities in engineering and earth sciences, energy, built environment, law, nanotechnology, and biomedicine.
In 2006, the Government of South Australia invited UCL to establish a campus in Australia. In 2008, UCL signed an agreement, which led to the establishment of the UCL School of Energy and Resources (UCL SERAus) in Adelaide.
