Oxford receives $100,000,000 to fund research projects
Dr James Martin is providing one of the biggest ever endowments to the University
A wealthy digital technology expert has become one of the University’s biggest ever benefactors, providing $100 million for research in human development. Dr James Martin, a 70 year-old alumnus and honorary fellow of Keble College, is providing the funding for the James Martin 21st Century School, which formally opened on Tuesday. This is the second major donation made by Dr Martin, who provided the funding for the James Martin Institute of Science and Technology in March last year.
A University press release said the centre will, “stimulate research on issues such as climate change, an increasingly ageing society, extreme inequalities in wealth across countries and continents, the risk of infectious disease epidemics like AIDS and SARS, and the effects of rapid technological change.” The money will be provided to a number of departments throughout the University, so they could focus on problems facing the future of humanity and the planet.
Dr Martin said: “Mankind faces huge challenges as the 21st century unfolds. It is essential that our leading thinkers commit time, energy and resources now to finding solutions to these risks and problems which could threaten the future of humanity itself.” Dr Martin is Founder and Chairman Emeritus of Headstrong, a global consultancy which helps companies worldwide create real business value from digital technologies.
Headstrong claim Martin has had more books published than any living person, writing over 100 works on digital technology. The endowments to the University, which are worth around £55 million, is over twice as much as the £20 million provided by Wafiq Saïd to finance the Saïd Business School. Dr John Hood, Vice-Chancellor of the University, said: “We are enormously grateful to James Martin for funding this project with this exceptional gift.
The James Martin 21st Century School will allow us to continue playing our part in helping tackle the seismic social and technological challenges ahead.” Student Union President John Blake told The Oxford Student that although he welcomed such funds, the University had to be cautious when accepting money from wealthy philanthropists. “We need to make sure we still have control over the direction of our research,” he said.
“However, this money does appear to be going towards an important and worthwhile project."
2nd Jun 2005