International university presidents declare energy research crucial

Thirteen university presidents from around the world declared Monday that studying energy and the environment are the most important fields for researchers.

The group urged government agencies and corporations to pour more resources into finding new sources of energy that don't harm the environment, calling it the most pressing problem facing the world today.

"Our students are very excited by this area" of research, said Washington University Chancellor Mark Wrighton. "In fact, some of them are pushing ahead in some cases faster than we can respond."

The declaration came after a three-day conference at Washington University in St. Louis, hosted by the McDonnell International Scholars Academy. The university presidents made various commitments to support the research, from hiring new faculty to hosting symposiums on the subject.

Shenghong Wang, president of Fudan University in Shanghai, said he plans to expand the university's environment and energy department into a school of its own. ...

•	International university presidents declare energy research crucial Associated Press, Monday, May 7, 2007 Byline: Christopher Leonard, Associated Press Writer

	Story also ran in 3 others:  International Herald Tribune, KMOV.com (St. Louis) and InsideHigherEd.com