The Canadian-American Center (established 1981) headquartered at the Darwin D. Martin House was established to focus on the contemporary dynamics of relations between the United States and Canada. President Ketter proposed its creation in May 1980. It was formally dedicated on June 5, 1981.

The Acid Rain Conference, coordinated by Joanne Burgess, Director of the Canadian-American Center and Special Assistant to the President for the Canadian-American Center, was sponsored by the newly-formed Canadian-American Center of the State University of New York at Buffalo.

The two-day conference held on May 1-2, 1981 in O'Brian Hall, addressed economic, social, and political aspects of the acid rain issue and the effects regarding international interaction. The four main points of discussion were:

Guest lecturers including university faculty, government associates, and ecological organizers were invited to present a particular area of expertise and to engage in discussions cross disciplinary discussions. The reaction to the conference was mixed with heavy negativity shown by the Canadian press.

The proceedings of the conference, Acid Rain: A Transjurisdictional Problem in Search of Solution, was published as a result of the conference and is derived primarily from the transcripts of the conference proceedings.