CRITICAL REACTION TO RESEARCH INITIATIVE

Abstract

DOW CHEMICAL AND BASF, the world’s two largest chemical companies, have separately agreed to fund groundbreaking academic research initiatives at two of the most prestigious U.S. universities. One of the partnerships, Dow’s sustainability program at the University of California, Berkeley, is raising serious concerns among academics. The other, between BASF and Harvard University, is not as controversial and will support research leading to new products. The Dow Chemical Foundation will make a gift of $10 million over the next five years to launch the Sustainable Products & Solutions Program at UC Berkeley. To be based at the Center for Responsible Business within UC Berkeley’s Haas School of Business, the interdisciplinary program will operate in partnership with the school’s College of Chemistry, but it will also draw on faculty from across the campus. The gift will fund basic chemical research, environmental policy research, and the interface between the two disciplines. The gift has attracted some facu...