About the Dow Centre

The UQ Dow Centre is committed to delivering solutions to globally significant challenges by generating and communicating new knowledge and analysis.

We bring together cutting-edge science, multidisciplinary research and systems analysis, along with world-class education to deliver innovations which have a significant impact on both sustainability and the economy.

The mission of the UQ Dow Centre is to provide thought leadership, and to facilitate innovation, in the sustainable production and use of energy and materials.

Established in 2014 through the generous donation of US$10 million from the Dow Chemical Company, the Centre leads a number of research projects which aim to make original and significant contributions to global sustainability. The UQ Dow Centre is part of the School of Chemical Engineering, an international leader in chemical engineering education and research.

Research at the Centre is interdisciplinary, with a strong techno-economic focus on the viability of industry transitions, delivered through collaboration with other UQ faculties and leading research partners worldwide.

Research

The Centre currently leads a number of projects which aim to make a significant contribution to global sustainability in the areas of production and utilisation of energy and materials.

The Centre’s current projects span the spectrum from systems analysis, to fundamental investigations into innovative technologies for energy, fuels and materials. Our approach is to work only on systems which have the potential to have significant impact on sustainability and the economy.

Engagement

The UQ Dow Centre consists of a multi-disciplinary team of postdoctoral researchers, techno-economic analysts, professional staff, as well as postgraduate and undergraduate students. UQ Dow Centre researchers are regularly called upon to share their expert knowledge and research developments with domestic and international media, governments, as well as industry and stakeholder groups.

Partners

The UQ Dow Centre works proudly alongside numerous schools, centres and institutes at the University of Queensland, and partners with our valued donors to create change through multi-disciplinary research. The Centre also builds global partnerships for education and research through collaboration with industry and other educational institutions in Australia and internationally, including Princeton University, Carnegie Mellon University, Tsinghua University, IIT-Bombay and IIT-Delhi.

Teaching and learning

The UQ Dow Centre seeks to build capacity among the next generation of thinkers to develop more sustainable systems in an ever-changing environment. The Centre hosts students undertaking Higher Degrees by Research, as well as Summer and Winter Research Scholars and undergraduate coursework placements. UQ Dow Centre leaders, researchers and analysts also contribute their expertise through coordination and lecturing of undergraduate and postgraduate coursework at UQ.