Chalmers Environmental Initiative Progress Report 2001

The Board of the Chalmers University of TechnologyFoundation decided in 1999 to invest SEK 100million in a strategic investment in the environmentwith a special focus on environmental systems analysis.This investment was entitled The ChalmersEnvironmental Initiative (CEI). Through thisenvironmental initiative Chalmers has acquired aprominent international position within environmentalsystems analysis.CEI is the result of the active research and educationthat has taken place at Chalmers over the past 10years. A broad base in combination with leadingedge technology presented the opportunity to createa very strong research programme based oninteraction between the various schools at Chalmers.As CEI is integrated into undergraduate anddoctoral programmes at Chalmers, engineers,architects and doctoral students have access, withinthe framework of their studies, to research-basedenvironmental education with a focus on asustainable society. CEI also co-operates with otherparties, such as industry, politicians, various organisationsand the general public, as a further means ofcontributing to sustainable development in society.Within CEI, seven new professors have beenappointed within the following areas:Management for SustainabilityRolf Wolff, 1 June 2000Environmental Systems TechnologyAnne-Marie Tillman, 1 September 2000Sustainable Industrial MetabolismChristian Azar, 1 September 2000Global Environmental MeasurementsDonal Murtagh, 1 November 2000Green ChemistryWilliam J. Frederick Jr, 1 August 2001Sustainable Energy SystemsFilip Johnsson, preliminary 1 October 2001Design for Sustainable Urban DevelopmentVacant: interviews during April 2001The four professors appointed in 2000 are presentedin this report as well as their declaration of intentfor the next few years. At present, the CEI professorsare involved with approximately 40 universities,institutes and industrial partners in the form ofproject co-operation and joint publications. The fourprofessors have the greater proportion of theirenvironmental research funded through externalgrants, compared to CEI. The proportion of facultyfunds and other internal Chalmers funds is at presentvery low. A summary of the financing structureis also included in this report.During 2001, various forms of co-operation wereinitiated between the professors, such as joint projectplans, doctoral students, courses and graduateschools. During autumn 2001, a residential seminaris planned for discussions within CEI as well as anopen presentation of the project and the professors.This major in-house focus on environmental researchhas attracted attention externally and contributedto the opening up of new potential in combinationwith increased expectations. Since May 1, 2000,Chalmers has been a member of the Alliance forGlobal Sustainability (AGS), an association of someof the world’s foremost universities in theenvironmental field. AGS and other platforms formthe basis for international research collaboration.CEI and other environmental activities have led tospin-off effects and contributed to increased interestin Chalmers as an environmental university.Chalmers and G\uf6teborg University were, forexample, jointly awarded the King Carl XVI Gustafvisiting professorship in environmental science for2001-2002 and Margot Wallstr\uf6m received anhonorary doctorate from Chalmers in 2001. A largenumber of well-known environmental researchershave also visited Chalmers to take part inconferences and seminars, including the winners ofthe Volvo Environmental Award for 2000 and thewinner of the City of G\uf6teborg InternationalEnvironmental Award for 2000