Alcoa Foundation's Conservation and Sustainability Program (Curtin's project "Sustaining Gondwana")

Following a call for applications to 20 universities world-wide, Curtin was awarded a grant under the Alcoa Foundation's Conservation and Sustainability Fellowship Program. Curtin also contributed to the five-year program.

The Program's aim is to support sustainability research and development, with a focus on improving education in conservation sustainability issues. Research partners in the Global Program are the University of Michigan, USA; University of Sao Paulo, Brazil; London School of Economics and Political Science, UK; Tsinghua University, Beijing, China; and Curtin University of Technology.

In addition, three Sustainability Institutes have been established: IUCN: The World Conservation Union (Switzerland); Tecnologico de Monterrey (Mexico) and World Wildlife Fund (USA).

The Program has established a 'Sustainability Cabinet' which includes all the principal researchers and is chaired by the Pro Vice-Chancellor, Research and Development. Six Research Fellowships of two years duration will be offered during the five-year program. The inaugural Fellowships were advertised in September 2005 and successful Fellows will commence in March 2006.

Curtin's Program, Sustaining Gondwana, which focuses on the South Coast region of Western Australia, offers a rare opportunity for sustainability research within an environment that is facing challenges. The region has been chosen because of its existing pro-active stance on these issues, and it is proposed that the many activities currently under way can be further leveraged through the Program while providing them with a global application.

The Program's announcement links with the United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (2005-2014). The main goal of the Decade is to encourage all stakeholders to integrate the concept of sustainable development into their education policies and into all aspects of learning to bring about behavioural changes that will usher in a more viable and just society.

A launch of the Program at Curtin was held on 14th November 2005 with the Federal Minister for the Environment, with Senator the Hon Ian Campbell officiating. Senior executives from Curtin and Alcoa were in attendance along with invited members of the community. Ms Velma Monteiro-Tribble (Pittsburgh, USA), Senior Program Officer with the Alcoa Foundation was also in attendance.

At the Launch (L to R) Professor Daniela Stehlik, Professor Lance Twomey (Vice-Chancellor) Professor Rene van Berkel (now left Curtin), Senator the Hon Ian Campbell, Professor Barney Glover, Mr Wayne Osborn (Managing Director, Alcoa World Alumina Australia), Professor Jonathen Majer, Ms Velma Monteiro-Tribble (Alcoa foundation), Professor Fiona Haslam McKenzie.

Principal Researchers: Professor Daniela Stehlik; Professor Fiona Haslam McKenzie; Professor Jonathan Majer; Professor Don Ke Zhang.

Client: Alcoa Foundation(USA).

Project Status: Continuing