14 DAY TRIAL // The California Institute of Technology and Georgia Institute of Technology in the United States, the Imperial College London and the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich in Europe, and the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Shanghai Jiaotong University and the Nanyang Technological University (NTU) in Asia are the seven technical universities in the world that have joined one another in order to solve complex societal issues. The main goal of the GATU is to elaborate and propose solutions for some of the world's most pressing issues, ranging from reducing food crops to global warming.
All the partners involved in this project believe that it's only through cooperation that this ambitious goal can be achieved, and not through individualist efforts on the part of each of the seven educational centers. Among the themes that will get most attention from GATU, experts include food and energy security, climate changes, water supply security, as well as booming demographics in developing nations. Biomedicine is also on top of the priority list, as it's advocated as the single best way of reducing the incidence of some of the world's most widespread diseases, such as cancer and diabetes.
“There is a strong external focus. The member institutions are linked by a belief that technology can make a difference in providing solutions to world problems; and by a desire to be active participants in the development of those solutions for the betterment of mankind,” the President of NTU, Dr. Su Guaning, shared. He added that the first GATU meeting was held on April 6th at the NTU, and that he was elected as the first chairman of the organization, with a two-year term.
The main “targets” of the new Alliance will be state governments and other authorities, international forums and decision-makers, as well as local authorities and organizations throughout the world. Other universities will also be brought in the “loop” on future GATU recommendations, and the international media will also be constantly informed of all future propositions. Meetings between the universities that have joined the initiative will be periodically held at various locations, and the secretariat of the organization will rotate systematically between members, at a two-year interval. The next shift is scheduled for 2011.