Kohn Foundation
Supporting the Royal Society's Science Policy Centre
The Kohn Foundation has pledged £1million towards the endowment of the Royal Society's Science Policy Centre. The income generated from the endowment will support the Royal Society's Science Policy Centre in all aspects of its work on climate change. It will enable the Royal Society to broaden its focus to include issues such as alternative fuels for transport, new technologies for mitigating climate change, adaptation to the impacts of climate change, as well as socio-economic issues arising from the effects of climate change.
Ralph Kohn, founder of the Kohn Foundation said: The deeply worrying problems which we face as a result of climate change require expert handling and who better than the Royal Society to take a leadership role to deal with the issues involved.
The Royal Society has developed a track record in providing impartial and unbiased policy advice to decision-makers and the general public through the publication of reports, discussion meetings and international conferences. It has played a crucial role in pushing the issue of climate change to the top of the agenda at the G8 summit meeting in 2005. A statement signed by the Royal Society and other national academies is often referenced by Parliament, as well as the US senate to support the need for action.
Martin Rees, President of the Royal Society said: This gift will help the Royal Society maintain its crucial role in pushing the issue of climate change to the top of everyone's agenda. It will enable us to continue to provide impartial and unbiased advice to decision-makers and the general public on a range of important scientific issues.
The Royal Society aims to raise £25m in support of the establishment of its Science Policy Centre as part of its overall campaign goal of £100m by 2010. This generous pledge by the Kohn Foundation has added to the Society's momentum to secure endowment funding for all of its science policy work.
Read more about our work on climate change.
The Kohn Foundation was established in 1991 by Dr Ralph Kohn FRS to provide financial support for scientific and medical research, education purposes, the arts-particularly music and humanitarian aid. For more information, please visit http://www.ralphkohn.com/foundation.html
