The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign has announced the creation of the Levenick Center for a Climate-Smart Circular Bioeconomy, the first such named center in the U.S., pending approval by the Board of Trustees in November. Funded by a generous $10 million gift from Stuart L. (ACES ’76) and Nancy J. Levenick, the Center will be housed in the Institute for Sustainability, Energy, and Environment (iSEE), the cross-campus home for interdisciplinary science that tackles sustainability challenges and mitigation of climate change.
A climate-smart circular bioeconomy puts recycling and regeneration at the center of how we grow and process food. The aim is to reduce the use of fossil fuels and synthetic chemicals, and instead use technological and biological resources to restore and regenerate natural systems.
“It is more important than ever that we bring our best scientists together to build systems that allow us to meet the needs of a growing global economy without damaging the environment,” Stu Levenick said. “This unique center will leverage interdisciplinary collaboration with the University of Illinois leadership in agriculture, engineering, and sustainability to drive the science forward.”
The Center will support the hiring of faculty and attract resources to enable interdisciplinary team science and transformative partnerships with the public and private sector to develop environmentally and economically beneficial strategies that are climate-smart, circular, and aimed at decarbonizing the economy. The center will also support new outreach programming, working closely alongside the College of Agricultural, Consumer, and Environmental Sciences to create a Corporate Sustainability in Practice Program that will prepare decision-makers to implement climate-smart, circular, and net zero practices in their businesses.
“Transitioning to a climate-smart circular bioeconomy is a complex global challenge that requires diverse perspectives, multi-faceted knowledge, and breakthrough science that bridges disciplines,” said Madhu Khanna, Alvin H. Baum Family Chair and Director of iSEE. “We are immensely grateful to Stu and Nancy Levenick for this generous gift that reflects their deep commitment to interdisciplinary sustainability science and will position iSEE as a leader in developing creative and actionable solutions and public-private partnerships that have regional relevance and global impact.”
Illinois is a leader in agriculture, sustainability, weather and climate research, and engineering, and the Levenick Center is perfectly positioned to make inroads in decarbonization, improving food security, and predicting and adapting to climate change.
“As a land-grant institution rooted in the pursuit of innovation and discovery, we are deeply grateful to Stu and Nancy for their visionary leadership and unwavering commitment to advancing interdisciplinary research in sustainability,” said Germán Bollero, Dean and Robert A. Easter Chair in the College of ACES. “Their generous contributions align with ACES’ mission to address the world’s most pressing challenges to sustain and advance life. This gift will have a profound and lasting impact on both our campus and society at large.”
The Levenicks have been loyal supporters of Illinois for many years. Their previous gifts have established the following: the Levenick Chair in Sustainability in the College of ACES; the Levenick Resident Scholars in Sustainability Leadership program; the Levenick iSEE Fellows Program; and a state-of-the-art classroom, meeting space, and media studio constructed with joint support from Caterpillar. They have also endowed athletic scholarships and helped fund the Henry Dale and Betty Smith Football Performance Center.
“The Levenicks have a vision for protecting our planet and building systems that repair the damage to our climate,” said Chancellor Robert J. Jones. “Their investment in Illinois reflects their trust in our ability to provide bold and imaginative solutions, and I deeply appreciate their partnership as we continue to innovate around this critical goal.”
