The Historic Resnick Gift for Catalysis

Lynda and Stewart Resnick, co-owners of California-based The Wonderful Company (opens in a new tab), have pledged $50 million to transform the Technion’s research of sustainability and catalysis. The Stewart and Lynda Resnick Sustainability Center for Catalysis will recruit scientists and promote research collaborations with industry to uncover new ways to maintain global population growth while protecting the planet for future generations.

“The Resnicks’ philanthropic vision demands forward-thinking action to preserve and protect our planet,” said Michael Waxman-Lenz, CEO of the American Technion Society. Rapid population growth and longer life expectancies are projected to result in more than 10 billion people living on Earth in the year 2050, while the world increasingly depletes its essential natural resources. The new Sustainability Center for Catalysis is part of a Technion initiative to create innovative solutions to produce food, medicine, and other critical products that will enable humankind to meet its needs efficiently while lessening the negative impact on nature.

Catalysis is a chemical process that dramatically speeds up a reaction between molecules and is involved in 90% of production processes in industry. The constant improvement of catalysis processes makes industrial methods more efficient and reduces their environmental damage, hence the connection between catalysis and sustainability.

“The daily impact of environmental change is seen through every aspect of our world. We need great minds across the globe working to preserve the planet to prepare for the needs of future generations. It’s now or never,” said Stewart Resnick. “Through the resources, dedication, and efforts that will emerge from this sustainability and catalysis center, we will confront the climate crisis rather than hide from it. Lynda, The Wonderful Company, and I are proud to call the Technion partners.”