Two centers at the University of Oklahoma have been identified as international educational hubs when dealing with pressing environmental issues.
The Tom Love Innovation Hub and Ronnie K. Irani Center for the Creation of Economic Wealth were named founding United States members of the North American EcoInnovation Network.
Both are part of an international network promoting innovation in sustainable development.
Tom Wavering, executive director of the Tom Love Innovation Hub, said OU was at the forefront of this international effort.
“EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler recently recognized OU’s Tom Love Innovation Hub and the Ronnie K. Irani Center for the Creation of Economic Wealth as the inspiration for the EcoInnovation Network,” Wavering said. “When several universities from Canada and Mexico visited OU last summer as part of the Commission for Environmental Cooperation Youth Innovation Challenge, they were very impressed with OU’s groundbreaking model and wanted to bring our model to their universities.”
Several from OU, including Brandt Smith, director of the I-Hub’s Fabrication Lab, traveled to Mexico City to take part in the 26th annual session of the Commission for Environmental Cooperation and present the operations model for the network.
“The EcoInnovation Network connects OU to experts and educational resources on sustainability across North America and builds relationships among leading innovation centers, like OU’s Tom Love Innovation Hub and our users, and with the sustainable business community, industry and government,” Wavering said.
The network aims to cultivate youth and community leadership in innovation and entrepreneurship for environmental protection and sustainable development in North America.