June 4, 1997 Contact Pauline Austin (541) 346-3129 EUGENE--The University of Oregon has joined a consortium of 36 research universities located on the Pacific Rim--a move that will significantly expand research and exchange opportunities with the premier universities in the region. The UO and the University of Washington are the only two Northwest universities invited to join the Association of Pacific Rim Universities (APRU). The consortium will link universities on the West Coast of the United States with their counterparts in Asia, South America and Australia. UO President Dave Frohnmayer met with the consortium when it convened for the first time this week at the University of Southern California. Other U.S. participants included the University of California at Berkeley, the University of California at Los Angeles and the California Institute of Technology. "The University of Oregon is delighted to be a member of the consortium. The APRU will be working on issues of major importance to the Pacific Rim such as economic development, urbanization and technology transfer," says Frohnmayer. "Membership will provide greater opportunities to forge links between UO faculty and students and their counterparts at other premier universities in the Pacific Basin," according to Richard Steers, UO vice provost for international affairs. The participating institutions will finance all APRU projects. Initially, USC will serve as headquarters for the organization. Frohnmayer explains that the new consortium includes the best universities in the region in terms of science, technology and research. APRU members include Keio University and Waseda University in Japan, Beijing University and Fudan University in China, Seoul National University in Korea, the National Taiwan University, the Australian National University, the National Autonomous University of Mexico and the University of British Columbia. -30- #O-6082/Local,OrDailies,PDX,SBUS