Michael Moritz & Harriet Heyman Pledge To Oxford

The biggest philanthropic gift for undergraduate financial support in European history will underpin a major new scholarship programme at the University of Oxford – making it possible, starting this autumn, for students from low-income backgrounds to complete their studies with zero upfront study and living costs. The transformative programme is founded on a £75million commitment from alumnus Michael Moritz and his wife Harriet Heyman which, with a 'matched funding challenge' to the collegiate University, will generate an unprecedented total of £300million to support UK undergraduates from lower-income backgrounds.

At present, just under a thousand Oxford undergraduates (about one in ten) are in the lowest family income bracket (families with incomes of below £16,000). Within three years of its launch this autumn, more than half of these students could benefit from a Moritz-Heyman Scholarship. It is envisaged that eventually all such students would be covered by the scheme or equivalent similar scholarships.

Under the programme, Oxford students from the lowest-income families will receive financial support totalling £11,000 per year, eliminating all living costs. Those students will have their borrowing pegged to the level prior to the new higher fees regime coming into force this autumn. They will need government loans of just £3,500 a year – repayable only in line with future earnings.

In addition, Moritz-Heyman scholars will receive financial support during vacations (so that economic hardship does not unnecessarily divert or distract low-income students), and will participate in a tailor-made internship programme to foster career opportunities.

Oxford’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Andrew Hamilton, said: 'Oxford is already offering the most generous undergraduate support package in the country. But this remarkable and hugely generous gift and initiative from Michael and Harriet allows us to go an important stage further towards our goal of ensuring that all barriers – real or perceived – are removed from students' choices. It provides extraordinary support – financial and personal – for outstanding students.'

Michael Moritz, who is an alumnus of Christ Church, said: 'Real talent is housed everywhere. Our new scholarship programme means that a gifted student – irrespective of financial circumstances – will always be 100% confident they can study at Oxford. This is a fresh approach to student funding in the UK – fuelled by philanthropy; catering to the dreams and aspirations of individuals determined to excel; while also safeguarding the academic excellence on which Oxford’s global reputation stands.'

The Prime Minister, The Rt Hon David Cameron, said: 'I welcome this generous donation which will mean that many talented students, from some of the most disadvantaged backgrounds, will get help and support to study at a world leading university, and have a chance to realise their full potential.'

The total gift of £75m to Oxford will be made in three tranches of £25m. Each £25m will be matched by the equivalent of investment returns from £25m of the University's own endowment, making £50m in total. Then there will be a challenge to the collegiate University and its supporters to match that £50m through further philanthropy. Only when the £25m stimulus has led to a full £100m for student support will the next £25m be given. This process will happen three times over, until Moritz and Heyman have donated £75m in all and Oxford has a total of £300m dedicated to undergraduate support.

Those who have already won a 2012 Oxford place with family incomes of below £16,000 will be eligible for a Moritz-Heyman scholarship. For 2012-13, 100 scholarships will be available, and priority will be given to students of science subjects and those who meet Oxford’s access priorities.

Students with family incomes below £16,000 who do not get one of the 100 Moritz-Heyman scholarships will still automatically receive Oxford University’s new standard 2012 support package, which provides both fee waivers and bursaries and is the most generous in the country.

In 2008, Michael Moritz and Harriet Heyman donated $50m (over £25m) to Christ Church, where he studied as an undergraduate, the biggest single gift in the college’s recent history.

Thomas Barrack Elected to USC Board of Trustees

Thomas J. Barrack Jr., founder, chairman, and chief executive officer of Los Angeles-based Colony Capital, LLC, one of the world's largest private equity real estate firms, was elected to the USC Board of Trustees on June 6. Barrack founded Colony Capital in 1991. As chairman, he has invested approximately $45 billion in assets worldwide and oversees a global organization located in 13 cities and 10 countries.

"I am very proud to announce that Thomas J. Barrack Jr. has been elected to the USC Board of Trustees," said USC president C. L. Max Nikias. "A true Trojan, Tom brings the unique perspective of an extraordinarily creative and successful entrepreneur to our board. His spirit of adventure, leadership, and wealth of experience in finance and real estate development will be invaluable as we secure USC's place among the ranks of the world's truly elite universities."

The son of Lebanese immigrants, Barrack is a Los Angeles native and a graduate of Loyola High School. While a student at USC, he played on the varsity rugby team. He received a bachelor's degree from USC in 1969 and later attended the USC Gould School of Law, where he was an editor of the Law Review, and the University of San Diego, where he earned his J.D. in 1972.

Barrack began his professional career at the firm of Herbert W. Kalmbach, President Richard Nixon's personal lawyer. He then took an assignment in Saudi Arabia, eventually learning Arabic and working for several years as an adviser to sons of the Saudi king.

Back in the United States, Barrack began his real estate investment career in 1976 as president of Dunn International Corporation, a builder of industrial and office parks. He served as deputy undersecretary of the U.S. Department of the Interior during the Reagan administration from 1982 to 1983. Following stints as president of Oxford Development Ventures, Inc. (the largest Canadian development company), and senior vice president of E. F. Hutton & Co. in New York, he became a principal with the Robert M. Bass Group, the principal investment vehicle for Robert M. Bass of Fort Worth, Texas, a position he held from 1986 to 1991.

Barrack is a current director of First Republic Bank, one of the largest private wealth banks in the United States; Accor S.A., the largest European hotel group; the Fairmont Hotel Group, one of the largest international hotel groups; and Kerzner International Holding Ltd., an international gaming and hospitality company.

He is a past director of Continental Airlines; Kerry Properties, one of the largest property companies in Hong Kong; Korea First Bank; Azorra Bank, Japan; Public Storage Company; and Santa Anita Companies.

In 2005, Barrack received an honorary doctorate from Pepperdine University, where he is a member of the University Board, a national advisory body. He was previously a trustee of the American University of Beirut. He has been a trustee of Loyola High School for over a decade and currently also is a trustee of the Thacher School in Ojai, Calif.

In Paris in 2010, in recognition of his contributions to the French business and finance sector, French president Nicolas Sarkozy knighted Barrack as a Chevalier de la Légion d'Honneur, the highest award bestowed by the French government on citizens and foreigners.

Throughout his career, Barrack has been an active champion of his alma mater, where he currently is a member of the Board of Leaders of the USC Marshall School of Business. He has served as a commencement speaker for the school, and as a presenter at its 13th annual Asia/Pacific Business Outlook conference in 2000. In fall 2010, he joined actor Rob Lowe in sharing his experiences, advice and philosophies with USC students during a program titled "Making Movies, Making Deals and Making It Big," as part of USC Marshall's John Bendheim Executive in Residence Program. Barrack also partnered with USC trustee Gin D. Wong, a 1950 architecture alumnus, to support a presentation by Beijing-based architect Liu Jiakun as part of the USC School of Architecture lecture series in January 2012. Barrack is a frequent keynote speaker at the USC Lusk Center for Real Estate and various other USC venues.

In recognition of his professional achievements and service to the university, Barrack was honored with USC Marshall's Alumni Award for Business Excellence in 1999. The USC Lloyd Greif Center for Entrepreneurial Studies named him "Entrepreneur of the Year," in 2005.

An avid surfer and polo player, Barrack resides in Los Angeles and also owns and operates a vineyard and horse ranch in Santa Ynez, Calif., with his children.

Super Students

Sienna & Marlana have come home with distinction ‘Super students’ today…. Incredibly this sort of thing seems to work…. No one wants to be on the ‘bottom’ category ‘NEED to Call parent’!!!

Sir Douglas Myers Scholarship Taking Cantabrian To Cambridge

Sir Douglas Myers Scholarship for 2012 to Cambridge University in England has been awarded to Zoë Higgins, a student from Banks Peninsula with a passion for improving the quality and sustainability of human life. There she will study for a bachelor of arts degree in geography with a view to working in developing countries and eventually back in her home province of Canterbury.

The scholarship, worth $100,000 a year, will take her to Gonville and Caius College at Cambridge. Sir Douglas Myers, a Cambridge alumnus, set up the scholarship 12 years ago for academically gifted students intending to return to New Zealand to become leaders in their chosen fields.

Last year Zoë was dux at St Margaret’s College, Christchurch where she also became the first student ever to receive Academic Honours twice for academic excellence, service and commitment. She scored 44 out of 45 in the International Baccalaureate Diploma while also gaining NCEA Scholarship in English.

Zoë was a member of the Canterbury schools debating team and won the school cups for debating and public speaking. She contributed to drama, film, writing and cultural events, and took part in dragon boating, indoor netball and table tennis. As prefect, Head of Community, she was responsible for events and fundraising for charities, including co-leading the school’s World Vision Forty Hour famine fundraiser.

Cambridge will give her “an amazing opportunity to make new friendships and step out from New Zealand into the world”, says Zoë. “I love the idea of living with students from around the world who have very different backgrounds and experiences.”

The ability to take papers from different disciplines at Cambridge appeals to Zoë as does the college system. She is also looking forward to advancing her own ideas and theories at intense, one-on-one supervision sessions.

Its “combination of imagination and problem-solving” and “the way it brings together science and humanities” persuaded her to pursue geography. “Mostly, I love the way it’s useful."

Zoë plans to apply her degree to engage with the world’s challenges: "equality, improved standards of living, and sustainable use of resources, in New Zealand and overseas. I want to be able to work on the ground and see what the problems really are, not just propose solutions from on high. Geography gives you the tools to do that. And it shows you how much of an impact informed, creative solutions can have."

New Zealand “is quite firmly my home” and after travelling and working overseas she would like to return to live here. “As a Cantabrian I care about finding ways to protect our soil and rivers from contamination by practising safe, sustainable agriculture.”

Currently Zoë is taking papers for a conjoint Bachelor of Engineering/Bachelor of Laws at the University of Auckland pending her start at Cambridge in October.

Jeff and MacKenzie Bezos Gift to Princeton

Princeton University alumnus Jeff Bezos, the founder and chief executive officer of Amazon.com, and alumna MacKenzie Bezos, are donating $15 million to the University to create a center in the Princeton Neuroscience Institute. The gift will establish the Bezos Center for Neural Circuit Dynamics, which will be led by institute co-director David Tank. "Professor Tank and his colleagues are on an epic quest to unravel one of humankind's greatest challenges — understanding the brain," said Jeff Bezos. "New tools and techniques are making possible discoveries that would have been unthinkable just two decades ago. We can hope for advancements that lead to understanding deep behaviors, more effective learning methods for young children, and cures for neurological diseases. MacKenzie and I are delighted and excited to support Princeton in their focus on fundamental neuroscience."

Bruce and Martha Karsh Support Duke

Duke University trustee Bruce Karsh and his wife Martha have donated $50 million to Duke for a permanent endowment to support need-based financial aid for undergraduate students from the United States and other countries, President Richard H. Brodhead announced Monday. This gift is the largest donation made by individuals to support financial aid in the university's history. The gift includes $30 million for U.S. students and $20 million for international students. Including this new contribution, the Karshes have given $85 million for undergraduate financial aid at Duke. More than half of Duke's undergraduates receive some form of financial assistance from the university.

"We are deeply grateful to the Karshes for this remarkable gift and for the way they have championed one of the university's highest priorities," Brodhead said. "This gift helps safeguard our commitment to keeping a Duke education accessible to students from a wide range of backgrounds, even as the economy continues to recover. It also opens our door further to the best and brightest students from around the world, creating a richer learning environment for all Duke students."

The Karshes have designated $5 million to create a "KIPP at Duke" endowment that will provide financial aid for tuition, program enrichment, advising and other support for graduates of the Knowledge Is Power Program (KIPP) who are accepted and matriculate at Duke. KIPP is a network of college-preparatory public schools in underserved communities throughout the nation.

The gift will add $15 million to the existing Karsh Scholarship Fund for financial aid for U. S. students, and will also create a $10 million dollar-for-dollar challenge to encourage other donors to establish their own named, need-based undergraduate scholarships for U.S. students.

The remaining $20 million will be dedicated to expanding and strengthening the Karsh International Scholars Program, which officially launched this year. This gift doubles their 2008 gift of $20 million that established the program.

The first group of Karsh International Scholars includes nine students from Nepal, Ethiopia, Kenya, Pakistan, Spain, Ukraine, Ecuador, Vietnam and Zimbabwe. In addition to having their full financial need met, Karsh Scholars are eligible for summer research funding to enhance their educational experience.

"Our first group of Karsh Scholars are exceptional students, and I'm excited to see that the program will grow as a result of the Karshes' newest gift," said Ana P. Barros, faculty adviser to the program and professor of civil and environmental engineering at Duke. "This gift will give Duke an advantage among top U.S. universities in attracting top international students to study here. It sends a message to potential applicants out there who dream of a U.S. education but who may think that it is impossible to afford. This says Duke can be the place for them, and we are committed to their success."

Duke is one of a small number of universities with a "need-blind" admissions policy, which means that the university does not consider an applicant's ability to pay for college when making admissions decisions. In addition, Duke guarantees to meet the full demonstrated financial need of admitted U.S. students. Financial aid packages combine grants, loans and work-study opportunities after assessing what parents and students can reasonably contribute.

Duke also offers need-based aid to international students, and the Karshes' gift will enable the university to provide assistance to more students from other countries.

Alison Rabil, Duke's assistant vice provost and director of financial aid, said the gift will make an enduring difference for students and their families.

"Donor-funded scholarship endowments play a key role in helping Duke meet the rising cost of financial aid. We've seen a marked increase in student need in recent years," she said. "It's extraordinary that we have donors like the Karshes who are willing to make an investment like this, which will benefit students and their families for generations to come."

Bruce Karsh, a 1977 Duke graduate, said he and Martha believe that financial aid is an investment in people that can be a "genuine game changer."

"It makes a crucial difference to the individual recipients and enhances the intellectual and cultural diversity of the university community. Moreover, it helps develop the pool of talent needed to grapple with an increasingly complex and global world," Karsh said.

"Martha and I believe strongly that motivated, talented students-- whether from underserved communities in the U.S or from around the globe -- should be able to attend a great university like Duke, which can nurture their talent and help them reach their potential. We know Duke shares the same deep commitment. We feel fortunate to be able to make a substantial gift that supports this shared value and that will help Duke deliver on its promise to meet the financial needs of all U.S. students and as many international students as possible."

Emeritus Laura Arrillaga-Andreessen's New Book, Giving 2.0

How can we transform our random, occasional acts of giving into consistent generosity that leverages our resources of time and talent? How can we bring deeper meaning to our lives and create enduring impact for the issues we care most about? How can we move from “giving 1.0” to “giving 2.0”? Written for all readers of all income levels, ages, and backgrounds, GIVING 2.0: Transform Your Giving and Our World by Laura Arrillaga-Andreessen (October 25, 2011; Jossey Bass) is a guide to living a life of generosity that is socially impactful, emotionally rewarding, and rich with learning. Arrillaga-Andreessen, who is the Founder and Chairman Emeritus of SV2, shares her own experiences as a prominent young philanthropist, academic, and social innovator, and also tells the inspiring stories of how ordinary, generous donors of all backgrounds found their passions, made their giving decisions, measured their impact, cultivated a strong emotional connection to their philanthropy, and tapped into the amazing reach of the Web and social media to collaborate with others who share their interests. And most importantly, by engaging in their giving in more proactive, strategic, and collaborative ways, they were each able to have mega impact without mega dollars.

Both intensely practical and personal, GIVING 2.0 shows how even seemingly small individual contributions can go further if we bring not only our hearts but also our minds to philanthropy. It’s an indispensable tool for anyone aspiring to create significant social change, transmit giving values to their children, and find long-lasting meaning from generosity. For more on the book, visit: www.giving2.com

Sir Ken Robinson, on His Inspirational Father

Sir Ken Robinson asks; 'who inspires you?' (Clip produced by Intel) In this short piece Ken shares with us the story of his own father's triumph over adversity. His father is revealed as a fabulous father, a man of wisdom, through circumstances most of us will never face.

Sir Ken conveys to us how and why his father encouraged him to continually reach out for the self-motivating, renewable power of purposeful education. Wise move. When we listen to Ken, many of us end up endeared to, and I suppose 'scratching our head' with wonder at the sheer thought provoking humanness, the fluid, stimulating emotionally engaging teaching style of Sir Ken Robinson.

Ken's father gave a gift of encouragement and inspiration not only to Ken. Anyone who has had the opportunity to meet Ken, listen to his messages at TED, online, or by written word, I'm sure would agree that a tremendous 'gift' continues to be passed on. This is the perpetual gift of inspiration, that for Ken came from his Dad who for much of his life was paralyzed.

In times like these when most of us are physically able, but frozen mentally and emotionally periodically by uncertainty, reflecting on this story and this gift from father to son can help us look beyond the moment when it comes to what we, with more focused consideration, might offer of real and lasting value to our own children.

Incredibly Ken agreed to be part of our book 'Fabulous Fathers'. We asked him on the basis of being thoroughly engaged by his book; The Element.

Ken and his wife Terry, who is shortly to publish a wonderful new book; India's Summer, are the real deal! 'Beer and 'bangers' with their inimitable family; after a 'laugh till you cry' shoot with them, is one of my top life memories. Ken never turns the sharing and mutual interchange 'off', but here's the thing; you desperately don't want him to! Ken is a Great Dad and Teacher. like his Dad!

By your bedside table, in your library or on your kindle, make room for Ken Robinson's 'works'.. It's a rock solid guarantee you'll be inspired!

New Dartmouth Board Members James Coulter, Marye Anne Fox, and Gregg Engles

Dartmouth Board of Trustees elected three new Board members and approved appointments and promotions to faculty positions. The Board elected James G. Coulter ’82, Gregg L. Engles ’79, and Marye Anne Fox, PhD ’74, as Charter Trustees; they joined the Board, along with two previously elected Alumni Trustees, Gail Koziara Boudreaux ’82 and Bill Burgess ’81, following Commencement on June 12. Coulter is a founding partner of TPG Capital, a private investment firm. Engles is chairman, chief executive officer, and founder of Dean Foods Company. Fox is chancellor of the University of California, San Diego, where she is also a distinguished professor of chemistry.

Steve Mandel ’78, chairman of the Board of Trustees, said, “On behalf of my fellow trustees, I am delighted to welcome Jim, Gregg, and Marye Anne to Dartmouth’s Board. As highly accomplished and capable leaders in their respective fields, their diverse insights will add exceptional value.”

President Jim Yong Kim said, “Jim, Gregg, and Marye Anne share an essential attribute for a Dartmouth trustee: a tremendous passion and commitment to supporting our mission of offering the highest-quality academic experience to our students and the discovery of knowledge through research and scholarship. I look forward to working with them as the Board strives to create an even more promising future for Dartmouth.”

James G. Coulter is a founding partner of TPG Capital, a private investment firm managing in excess of $50 billion in assets. Coulter serves on the boards of Lenovo, J. Crew, Neiman Marcus, Creative Artists Agency, IMS Health, and Vincraft Group. He also serves on numerous nonprofit boards, including the Stanford University Board of Trustees, Common Sense Media, and the San Francisco University High School.

While an undergraduate at Dartmouth, Coulter was a member of Alpha Chi Alpha and Winter Carnival Council, participated in Sphinx and the Rugby Club, and played soccer. Coulter has previously served as a member of the Class of 1982 Reunion Giving Committee. He holds an MBA from Stanford University, where he was a 1986 Arjay Miller Scholar. He and his wife Penny have three children, including a daughter who will join Dartmouth’s Class of 2015 in the fall.

Gregg L. Engles is chairman, chief executive officer, and founder of Dean Foods Company. His nonprofit board memberships include Children’s Medical Center Dallas, Southwestern Medical Foundation, the Yale Law School Fund, the Hockaday School, and GMA (formerly Grocery Manufacturers of America). Engles was previously a member of the Yale Law School Association, Young Presidents Organization, the Dallas Citizens Council, and the International Dairy Foods Association.

While an undergraduate at Dartmouth, Engles was a member of Chi Gamma Epsilon/Kappa Sigma. He and his wife Molly currently serve on the President’s Leadership Council. Engles previously was a member and participation agent of the Class of 1979 Reunion Giving Committee and an Alumni Fund Volunteer. He holds a JD from Yale University. He and Molly have three children.

Marye Anne Fox, PhD, is chancellor of the University of California San Diego, where she is also a distinguished professor of chemistry. In 2010, President Obama presented her with a National Medal of Science, the highest scientific honor awarded in the United States. Previously, Fox served as a science advisor to George W. Bush during his tenure as governor of Texas and later on President Bush’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology. Fox currently serves on the boards of W.R. Grace and Red Hat. Fox previously served on the University of Notre Dame Board of Trustees. She serves on numerous other nonprofit boards, including the Welch Foundation, Council on Competitiveness, the Association of American Universities, University of California President’s Board on Science and Innovation, and the Camille and Henry Dreyfus Foundation’s Scientific Affairs Committee.

George and Julia Argyros Gift to UCI's School of Medicine

A $5 million gift from Julia and George Argyros to UC Irvine’s Gavin Herbert Eye Institute was announced Thursday, April 7, at “Science Under the Stars,” the second annual UCI School of Medicine gala. The gift will establish the Julia & George Argyros Ambulatory Surgery Center in the newest and most state-of-the-art eye care and treatment facility to be built on the West Coast. The gala doubled as a groundbreaking ceremony for the 70,000-square-foot institute, which will house patient exam and waiting areas, the outpatient surgery center, an optical shop, and faculty office and conference space. The Argyros donation will go toward the nearly $31 million estimated cost of the building. Construction is expected to be completed in 2013.

“Julia and George Argyros’ histories – along with Gavin Herbert’s – as builders and leaders in Orange County run deep,” said UCI Chancellor Michael Drake, “and we are especially proud they have joined us in personal support of the institute. We cannot think of a more fitting way to acknowledge their support than by naming the ambulatory surgery center in their honor.”

The Gavin Herbert Eye Institute’s mission is to develop educational programs, technologies and clinical solutions that enhance visual health and performance for people in Orange County, the nation and the world through cooperation with medical professionals, industry and the community. Gavin Herbert, founder and former CEO of Allergan Inc. – an Irvine-based maker of eye care and other products, including Botox Cosmetic – along with his mother, Josephine Gleis, made the initial $10 million naming gift in 2007. Another $13 million in commitments also has been secured.

“We’re close to building something special,” Herbert said, “something we’ve dreamed about for more than 30 years. I’ve known and respected my good friends George and Julia Argyros for decades and have watched their substantial contributions to Orange County. I’m delighted that they’re joining me in helping provide these much-needed services to the community.”

Jim Mazzo, chairman and CEO of Abbott Medical Optics Inc., in Santa Ana, noted that bringing eye care services and top researchers to Orange County requires a top-notch facility. “By aligning ourselves with outstanding community leaders such as George and Julia Argyros and Gavin Herbert, we can create a facility that will keep the institute’s researchers, professors, physicians and fellows in the vanguard of innovation, training and care,” said Mazzo, chair of the institute campaign committee.

Dr. Roger Steinert, founding director of The Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, said: “We’re committed to meeting the community’s needs and elevating the level of eye care in Orange County to the best anywhere, nationally or internationally.”

Thomas Kat Steyer Gift to Stanford Creates Interdisciplinary Center for Energy Policy and Finance

Stanford Law School and the Graduate School of Business today announced the establishment of the Steyer-Taylor Center for Energy Policy and Finance, an interdisciplinary center to study and advance the development and deployment of clean energy technologies through innovative policy and finance. The Steyer-Taylor Center for Energy Policy and Finance will be housed at both the Law School and the Graduate School of Business, bringing together the best minds from both disciplines to advance the development, financing, management and regulation of the clean energy technology sector. The center is the latest of Stanford University's efforts to address comprehensively the global energy challenge-from advancing energy efficiency to developing and deploying renewable energy, to reducing the effects of fossil fuels. The center's focus on policy and finance solutions will complement the work of other institutes, as well: the Precourt Institute for Energy; the TomKat Center for Sustainable Energy; the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies' Program on Energy and Sustainable Development; and the Stanford Environmental and Energy Policy Analysis Center at the Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research.

The center has been made possible by a $7 million gift from Stanford alumni Thomas Steyer and his wife, Kat Taylor. Its executive director will be Dan Reicher, who has also been appointed professor of the practice of law at the Law School and lecturer at the Graduate School of Business. Reicher was assistant secretary of energy for energy efficiency and renewable energy during the Clinton administration. A member of President Obama's transition team, he was most recently director of climate change and energy initiatives at Google. He has strong energy and environmental credentials and extensive experience in government, law, business and venture capital, and the non-profit sector.

"We believe that Stanford is uniquely positioned to change our nation's attitudes and capabilities regarding how we make and use energy. What our university did for the information revolution, it must now do for the energy revolution," said Steyer of his and Taylor's gift.

The TomKat Center for Sustainable Energy, a research center within the Precourt Institute for Energy which launched in 2009, was also funded by generous support from Thomas Steyer and Kat Taylor. Steyer is a Stanford trustee and managing partner of Farallon Capital Management; Taylor is active in a variety of public benefit and philanthropic ventures. Steyer founded Farallon in 1986. He is also managing director of Hellman & Friedman, a San Francisco-based private equity firm. He previously worked for Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley.

With a strong base at both Stanford Law School and the Graduate School of Business, the Steyer-Taylor Center for Energy Policy and Finance will provide a broad platform for research on energy policy and finance-particularly legislative, regulatory and business tools—that increase public support for and the flow of capital to clean energy technologies. It will produce world-class research for policymakers, the business community, and technology leaders to help inform and resolve energy problems at the global, national, state and local levels. It will help coordinate related work being done in Stanford's other centers, schools and departments to enhance teaching, training and research across the campus.

"Energy may be our most pressing public policy problem today," said Stanford Law School Dean Larry Kramer. "Our success in addressing it will determine much about our future—both economically and environmentally. And any solutions require working across disciplines and understanding the critical role of both law and finance in making technological innovations workable. That being so, it is really quite astonishing that there is nothing like this new center on energy policy and finance at any other law school. We are absolutely delighted to launch this collaborative effort with the Stanford Graduate School of Business and expect to make strong contributions to national and global efforts to develop sustainable energy."

By collaborating with the Graduate School of Business, the center will leverage business school expertise to help resolve the challenge of financing clean technologies from conception to market and educate future leaders of managed organizations to incorporate sustainability in operations and strategy. Financing can be exceptionally difficult since clean technology innovations may require billions of dollars to scale up from venture capital-backed pilot projects to commercially financeable production facilities. "Interdisciplinary centers like this help us create the conditions for innovation to flourish, so that faculty and students can help drive solutions to pressing global problems such as creating more sustainable energy systems," said Stanford Graduate School of Business Dean Garth Saloner.

"U.S. and global energy systems are plagued by serious economic, environmental and national security problems," said the center's executive director, Professor Dan Reicher. "In their resolution lie vast opportunities for job creation, pollution control and reduced international tensions. The successful integration of policy and finance is key to addressing these problems and seizing the unprecedented opportunities. We need smart policy to set the stage for fundamental change in our energy systems and innovative finance to make things happen-from early stage innovation to the broad-scale deployment of clean energy technologies. I look forward to helping the center become a catalyst for an environmentally and economically sustainable energy future."

Reicher added, "I'm particularly pleased that Tom Steyer and Kat Taylor are backing the center given their long-standing commitment to clean energy as well as their recent success in building a bipartisan coalition-spanning the business, environmental, environmental justice, and national security communities-that ensured the continued implementation of California's path-breaking climate change program."

5th annual James Dyson Award

This summer, regional judges across the world are deciding which student inventions will make it on to the shortlist of the James Dyson Award. Each of the 18 participating countries will name a national winner. The shortlist then goes before a panel of Dyson engineers, and finally James Dyson will announce the 2010 winner in October. Entries have included a buoy that uses ultrasonic technology to warn wildlife away from oil spills, a human powered car battery charger and a bumpless speed bump.

Over 500 ideas from 18 other countries are competing to claim the £20,000 prize.

The award, run by the James Dyson Foundation, aims to celebrate young designers and inspire the next generation of design engineers. Current perceptions of engineering in Britain are reflected in the numbers who study it. There are only 24,000 engineering graduates a year and 58,000 engineering vacancies.

The James Dyson Award works with universities across the globe and will be open for entries from the 2nd February to 1st July 2010. Half of the prize money is invested directly in the winner’s university or college faculty and £10,000 goes directly to the winning students to help them make their design a reality.

James Dyson says: “We need to do more to support and celebrate the engineers of the future. Making things is not about grime and grease, but solving real life problems.”

Out of more than 400 entries, last year’s winner was Automist, an attachment for a kitchen tap that can detect fires and put them out by using mains water to create a fine mist. The project was developed by British students Yusuf Muhammad and Paul Thomas from the Royal College of Art in London.

Yusuf Muhammad comments: “Winning the James Dyson Award has enabled us to transform our idea from a prototype into a viable product – which we’re now close to being able to sell. The Award gave us two advantages – cash and recognition. The prize money has been crucial to keeping our small business going, but the interest we’ve received through coverage has been priceless. We’ve had emails from all around the world, both from big companies and from individuals who want to know when they can get hold of the Automist to install in their kitchen. We’ve just put it through another round of testing at the Building Research Establishment - specialists were impressed by the way our invention tackled fire effectively in such a different way. One of the best things is having the recognition of James Dyson, probably the best known inventor in the country.”

James Dyson will announce the global winner on 5th October 2010.

Intercontinental Family Life

I’m flying to LA today …missing my three girls awfully already… I’m going to miss their first assembly in their new N.Z. school, Where Marlana is going to say ‘My Mom is an American and my Dad is a Kiwi. When we fly to America, at the airport they say to me welcome, to my Dad they say, ‘what do you want, what are you doing here?’…..

When Marlana rehearses her little speech it’s very amusing … My daughters think it’s funny they sail through customs as American citizens and I get asked lots of questions… even though I have a VISA!

Ram Shriram elected to Stanford Board of Trustees

The Stanford University Board of Trustees recently elected Kavitark "Ram" Shriram, founder of Sherpalo Ventures LLC, a Menlo Park venture fund, to a five-year term. The board used electronic ballots to conduct the election, which took place in November. Shriram will take his seat at the board's Dec. 7-8 meeting.

Including Shriram, the board will have 32 members, three fewer than its limit of 35.

"Stanford is fortunate to welcome Ram Shriram to the Board of Trustees," Leslie Hume, chair of the board, said in an email message.

"Through his involvement in the Education and Engineering schools, and the Parents Advisory Board, Ram has proved an exceptionally thoughtful and generous volunteer, with a deep commitment to Stanford's mission. His expertise in business and technology and his broad global perspective will be of great value to the board."

Shriram is the founder and managing partner of Sherpalo Ventures, which he established in 2000.

The venture fund, whose website features a photograph of Mount Everest, takes its name from the Nepalese mountaineers – known as sherpas – who guide visiting climbers to the top of the highest peak on Earth. Shriram combined "Sherpa" and Palo Alto – home to venture capitalists and startups alike – to create "Sherpalo."

He said the mountain represents the heights entrepreneurs must climb to succeed in the rugged business of developing and commercializing early stage technologies.

"Young companies face numerous challenges as they seek to grow and gain traction," the Sherpalo Ventures website says. "For founder leaders, it is invaluable to have an experienced Sherpa guide to share the load and make success come a little easier, perhaps a little faster and with fewer mistakes."

Sherpalo has invested in a variety of startups, including Bump Technologies, which allows people to swap contact information, photos and music files by simply "bumping" their phones together; StumbleUpon, which helps people discover and share websites; FlightCaster, which predicts flight delays; and ZumoDrive, which uses "hybrid cloud technology" to provide unlimited storage on computers and smart phones.

Currently, Shriram is focusing some of his funding efforts in India, where his interests include social entrepreneurship, education, energy, sanitation, and telecommunications infrastructure.

He is married to Vijayalakshmi "Vijay" Shriram, and the couple has two daughters, both of whom are students at Stanford.

The couple has served on Stanford's Parents Advisory Board since 2006. In addition to various philanthropic programs in India, they have endowed the Shriram Family Professorship in Science Education in Stanford's School of Education.

Stewart and Lynda Resnick's Gift to Caltech

As the U.S. Secretary of Energy and hundreds of graduates and their families looked on, California Institute of Technology (Caltech) president Jean-Lou Chameau began today's commencement ceremony by announcing $30 million in gifts as the first phase of a proposed $90 million initiative for a new institute. The funds will go towards the creation of the Resnick Sustainability Institute at Caltech. The initial gift of $20 million was made by Stewart and Lynda Resnick, and an additional $10 million came from the Gordon and Betty Moore Matching Program. The plans include a second phase of funding to be initiated next year as part of a challenge grant. Ultimately, the endowment for the new institute will exceed $90 million.

The vision of the Resnick Sustainability Institute is to provide a path to sustainability by focusing on innovative science and engineering developments required for groundbreaking energy technologies. Such technologies may one day help solve our global energy and climate challenges. With the support of the Resnick Sustainability Institute, some of the brightest minds in the world will apply Caltech's unique approach to interdisciplinary research toward high-risk, high-return energy science and technology.

"I have enjoyed many conversations with Stewart and Lynda on exciting developments in science and technology and their potential for addressing many of our environmental and economic challenges," says Chameau. "This generous gift from the Resnicks reflects their extraordinary desire and courage to make a difference. With their support, we are poised to launch an initiative at Caltech that will herald a new era in energy research."

"We are passionately committed to finding alternative and sustainable energy solutions," say Stewart and Lynda Resnick. "We're making this investment because Caltech is truly one of America's greatest research universities, and we are confident that this new institute will develop the breakthrough technologies we need to address the daunting challenges of energy security, rapidly accelerating energy demand, and climate change."

The new institute will leverage prior grants from the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation and work being done by Caltech researchers such as Harry Atwater, the Howard Hughes Professor and professor of applied physics and materials science, who leads Caltech's Energy Frontier Research Center, recently funded by the Department of Energy; and Harry Gray, the Arnold O. Beckman Professor of Chemistry, and Nate Lewis, the George L. Argyros Professor and professor of chemistry, who lead Caltech's Center for Chemical Innovation, funded by the National Science Foundation.

The Resnicks' existing relationship with Caltech includes Stewart Resnick's role as a member of the Board of Trustees. He is also chairman and, with his wife, Lynda, owner of Roll International Corporation, a private holding company he founded in 1962. The company has diverse interests including Paramount Citrus, Paramount Farming, and Paramount Farms, growers and processors of citrus, almonds, and pistachios; POM Wonderful, the largest grower of pomegranates and makers of POM Wonderful pomegranate juice; Teleflora, the floral-by-wire service; FIJI Water, a leading premium bottled-water brand; and Suterra, one of the largest biorational pest control providers in the world.

The Resnicks have a long history of giving to Los Angeles institutions, including a 2008 pledge of $55 million to the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.

The announcement of the gift was made during Chameau's opening remarks at Caltech's 115th annual commencement ceremony. This year's keynote speaker, Department of Energy Secretary Steven Chu, remarked that the timing of the gift announcement was especially appropriate, as it involved energy science and sustainability, two of his programmatic efforts at the energy department.

Douglas Myers in NZ Will Take Senses To The Baltics In Summer

International Opportunities for Kiwis has become a well-worn subject with Sir Doug. London-based Sir Doug remains involved with the Business Roundtable, which he once chaired and his primary business interest here is now investing in young students. Sir Douglas Myers is home this week to present the Douglas Myers Scholarship to Cambridge University in England. The scholarship, worth $100,000 a year, is for academically distinguished Kiwi students with leadership potential.

No Myers scholars have returned to New Zealand. Sir Doug used to hope they would bring their success back to New Zealand, he is now au fait with it – his children live overseas.

“That’s the New Zealand experience now – we export people.

“There’s advantage to be had with young people dotted around the place that think well of New Zealand and can be drawn on to give opinions – if Kiwis are willing to listen.”

Sir Doug is not yet returning to New Zealand just yet.

“I may well. It’s more likely this year than five years ago.”

This summer his plans are to take his yacht, Senses to the Baltics. Then fishing in Alaska and Iceland.

David and Cheryl Duffield's Maddie's Fund Gift to Purdue University's School of Veterinary Medicine

David and Cheryl Duffield's Maddie's Fund® has awarded $1.1 M over the next three years to support the development of a comprehensive shelter medicine program at Purdue University's School of Veterinary Medicine. Maddie's Shelter Medicine Program will focus on three areas: research, shelter medicine education, and training future leaders in the field. The program will provide graduate and residency training in shelter management, applied behavior, and preventive medicine, and offer critical experience to students through externships and clinical rotations in shelters. The grant will fund the development of programs including:

A doctoral graduate program in shelter-based population medicine A combined residency and Masters degree program in Animal Behavior A post-DVM fellowship in shelter medicine Shelter externships for veterinary students and veterinary technology students with clinical rotations in shelters Research in shelter medicine and pet homelessness for graduate and veterinary students

"With an emphasis on research and graduate training, Purdue is adding its own unique strength to the field of shelter medicine," said Maddie's Fund Veterinary Director, Laurie Peek, DVM. "Maddie's Fund is proud to support this program which will add a wealth of new knowledge to the field and educate the leaders who will impact shelter medicine for many years to come."

Maddie's Shelter Medicine Program will work with two collaborating shelters in major metropolitan areas: the adoption guarantee PAWS Chicago and the Humane Society of Indianapolis.

"The students and clinicians we educate at the Purdue University School of Veterinary Medicine should understand the importance of pet homelessness," said Annette Litster of the School of Veterinary Medicine's Veterinary Clinical Sciences department, "and graduate from here with a commitment to make a difference."

USC Gift From Trustee Mark A. Stevens and Wife Mary Stevens

In a move that demonstrates the University of Southern California's strengthened commitment to advancing breakthrough research in the biosciences, the USC Stevens Institute for Innovation announced today the opening of an office in the new Harlyne Norris Tower at USC's Health Sciences Campus (HSC). Functioning as a satellite office, USC Stevens at HSC will specifically service the HSC community of innovators through community-building events, showcase opportunities, and tech transfer activities, and will unify innovation advancement activities throughout the University. Just a short walk from most HSC laboratories, this office will enable the growing USC Stevens HSC team to more effectively and efficiently service the faculty members and researchers in the HSC schools including the Keck School of Medicine, USC School of Pharmacy, and USC School of Dentistry. The USC Stevens HSC team includes five full-time staff, growing to nearly 10 by year's end. Additionally, USC Stevens Director of Licensing, Joe Koepnick, will split his time between the two campuses.

Noting that 42 percent of the University's licensing revenue comes from inventions and patents developed at the Keck School of Medicine at USC, Provost C.L. Max Nikias called the satellite office "a strategic development in line with the University's mission to enhance and foster innovation across all disciplines for maximum societal impact."

"By opening a USC Stevens office on the Health Sciences Campus, USC further demonstrates its intention to provide leadership in the medical and biological sciences revolution that will reshape our society in coming decades," Nikias added. "We are creating a model that will strengthen Southern California's biotech industry. Faculty and researchers at HSC now have seasoned staff available at their doorstep, ready and able to address their needs and help get their life-enhancing and life-saving inventions out to the market."

"It's a big move for the university, and clearly demonstrates a strong commitment to the growth of both the USC Health Sciences Campus and the life science industry here in Los Angeles," said Krisztina Holly, Vice Provost and Executive Director for USC Stevens. "The Los Angeles market is bursting with entrepreneurial talent and culture. As a university, we're in the right place at the right time to significantly impact the life science industry in Los Angeles, now and in the future."

According to the Southern California Biomedical Council (SoCalBio), the Los Angeles/Orange County metro area has a 36% higher concentration of biosciences employment than other metro areas in the U.S. Most notably, the LA region is first among U.S. metropolitan areas in medical device sector employment and second in bioscience research, testing and labs. According to the PricewaterhouseCoopers MoneyTree Report, LA/Orange County is 10th in the nation for Biotechnology Venture Capital funding, the highest since 2001.

Tanya and Charles Brandes Gift to UCSD to Support MBA Student Fellowships

“UC San Diego has been fortunate in securing generous private support for the university’s top-performing professional schools, including our innovative and pioneering Rady School of Management,” said UC San Diego Chancellor Marye Anne Fox. “We are thankful for the support of Tanya and Charles Brandes and their foundation, because this gift will open doors to graduate management education for talented students.” “The Brandes Fellowships will provide financial assistance to outstanding individuals who otherwise might not be in a position to pursue their MBA degrees,” said Rady School Dean Robert S. Sullivan. “Attracting such excellent students to the Rady School is a top priority. We are deeply appreciative of the Brandes' support and their involvement in building our school.”

The mission of The Tanya and Charles Brandes Foundation is to provide support for the arts, science, education and community leadership. Tanya Brandes serves as the president of the foundation, providing oversight and strategic direction. She holds an undergraduate degree from the University of Southern California and a medical degree from Stanford University School of Medicine. Dr. Brandes worked in emergency medicine and continues to be involved in providing charity medical services in Papua New Guinea, Africa and other developing nations. In addition to the foundation and her medical work, she is the co-owner of a film production company.

"A commitment to education is one of the best investments that can be made,” said Tanya Brandes. “It is our hope that through the Brandes Fellowships, the Rady School will attract talented entrepreneurs and managers who will strengthen our San Diego business community and beyond.”

Charles H. Brandes is a graduate of Bucknell University. He founded San Diego-based Brandes Investment Partners in 1974. The firm has offices in Toronto and Geneva. “We are confident that this school will shape the next generation of local and international leaders, who will exemplify entrepreneurial spirit, intelligent management and ethical business practice,” said Charles Brandes.

Jerry Yang and Akiko Yamazaki pledge $75 million to Stanford

University trustee Jerry Yang, co-founder of Yahoo! Inc., and his wife, Akiko Yamazaki, have pledged $75 million to enhance multidisciplinary programs at Stanford. The bulk of the gift—$50 million—will be used to cover construction costs for the new Environment and Energy Building, which eventually will serve as the hub for environmental studies on campus. Another $5 million will go toward the construction of the high-tech Learning and Knowledge Center for the School of Medicine. The remaining $20 million will be earmarked for projects to be determined later.

The gift—the largest of several donations Yang and Yamazaki have given to their alma mater—represents a major contribution to The Stanford Challenge, the university's recently announced campaign dedicated to finding solutions to the most pressing challenges facing society and to strengthening multidisciplinary teaching and research across the campus.

"Stanford is indeed fortunate to have friends like Jerry Yang and Akiko Yamazaki," said university President John Hennessy. "Jerry and Akiko have always been loyal supporters of their alma mater, but this gift is particularly meaningful for the university as it seeks to address important issues of environmental sustainability. At the same time, it recognizes the critical role that cutting-edge research facilities play as hubs for dynamic intellectual exchange and innovative research in the ongoing search for knowledge that serves the public good. We are truly grateful for the generosity of spirit and breadth of vision embodied in this magnificent gift." Sustainable future

Born in Taiwan and raised in the Bay Area, Yang, who earned bachelor's and master's degrees in electrical engineering from Stanford in 1990, co-created the Yahoo! search engine in April 1994 while a doctoral student in electrical engineering at Stanford. He is currently a director of the company and holds the title of Chief Yahoo. In 2005, he was elected to the Stanford Board of Trustees for a five-year term. Yamazaki was raised in Costa Rica and came to the United States to study at Stanford, where she earned a bachelor's degree in industrial engineering in 1990. She is a director of the Wildlife Conservation Network in Los Altos, Calif. The couple met in Japan in 1992 at the Stanford in Kyoto overseas studies program.

"When The Stanford Challenge defined the environment and sustainability as a major fundraising initiative, it really hit home for Akiko and me," Yang said.

"When you live in a place like Costa Rica, the environment is just part of life," Yamazaki added. "Because it's such a small country, everything is very accessible. Sloths are always coming into your backyard, and if you want to see white-faced monkeys, you just drive an hour and there they are."

She said that she and her husband welcomed the opportunity to make a substantial contribution toward construction of the Environment and Energy Building, which began in 2005 and is expected to be completed in December. The estimated price tag for the finished building is $118 million. The 166,000-square-foot eco-friendly structure located at Via Ortega and Panama Street will provide a new home for the Woods Institute for the Environment, the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and several interdisciplinary environmental research programs.

"The future is in interdisciplinary problem solving," Yamazaki said. "This building and the programs it will house will allow the best and the brightest to convene and engage in problem solving in a unique way that's only possible in an academic setting. What better place than Stanford for that, with its excellence in engineering, law, earth sciences and biology. It will really be drawing on all the strengths that Stanford has."

The new building will serve as a coming-together place for Stanford's environmental community, added Woods Institute Director Jeffrey R. Koseff, the William Alden and Martha Campbell Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering.

"The Environment and Energy Building will allow us to move our ideas into action by providing the space and technology for collaboration and connections with decision makers, and it will create the spaces needed to train and educate leaders in the environmental realm," he said. "We are all enormously grateful to Jerry and Akiko for their incredible generosity."

Added Yang: "I think in five, 10 or 15 years we'll be able to say, 'Wow, look at all the great things that have come out of that building.'" Medical education

Yang and Yamazaki also have pledged $5 million toward construction of the School of Medicine's Learning and Knowledge Center, a 120,000-square-foot building that will provide cutting-edge technologies for training doctors. The center is expected to cost $90 million to $100 million and will replace Fairchild Auditorium.

"This new facility will be the most exciting and advanced center for medical education in the nation," said Philip A. Pizzo, the Carl and Elizabeth Naumann Professor for the Dean of the School of Medicine. "It will bring together state-of-the-art information technology, robotics and virtual reality to create an environment that provides novel approaches to education that are coupled with a commitment to humanism and compassion, and which will transform the educational experience for our medical and graduate students, as well as postgraduate residents, fellows and faculty."

In 2006, Pizzo asked Yamazaki and Nobel laureate Paul Berg, the Robert W. and Vivian K. Cahill Professor of Cancer Research, Emeritus, to co-chair the effort to raise $50 million for the new center. The $5 million gift will help jumpstart that fundraising effort. "The Learning and Knowledge Center will be a role model for the nation and epitomizes the values, commitment and contributions of Jerry and Akiko," Pizzo said.

"There is this notion that medical school education is still very much book driven," Yang said. "Over the last few years, there is really much more focus and opportunity for medical education to be done using technology. The Learning and Knowledge Center will be a hub for those kinds of activities. It really does marry our interest in information technology with medical education."

Over the years, Yang and Yamazaki have funded scholarships, undergraduate education and other campus programs at the School of Engineering, the Asia Pacific Research Center, the Stanford Japan Center and the Jasper Ridge Biological Preserve. They also co-chaired the recent Campaign for Undergraduate Education, which raised more than $1.1 billion to strengthen undergraduate studies.

"It's great that we can contribute in some way, but at the same time, I don't think that we can afford not to do this," Yamazaki said. "Otherwise, our child is not going to have a good world to live in."

"We keep coming back to Stanford as a place to give money to, because there's a uniqueness that Stanford offers donors like us," Yang said. "First of all, you can attract world-class talent. Secondly, there's very long-term thinking beyond what you can commercialize tomorrow, beyond what the politics are day-to-day. Number three, it's still a place about interaction, where the best lawyers, biologists and engineers are all sitting around drinking coffee together. You can't replace that with technology or video conferencing or flying around in airplanes. You have to be down the hall where you have the chance of creating some of the best ideas that will come out in the next century. We feel thrilled, actually, to be a part of that."