Investor Updates
Australia opens $25m tropical sciences institute
22 July 2013
The Australian Government has opened the $25 million Cairns Institute of marine and science studies at James Cook University (JCU), underscoring the nation’s commitment to world-class research.
The institute aims to foster collaboration between world-class scientists and academics on research that contributes to sustainable living for tropical communities.
"This building demonstrates the strength of the Labor Government's resolve to give our scientists, researchers, academics and students world-class facilities to carry out world-class science,” the Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science, Research and Minister for Higher Education, Senator Kim Carr, said.
“It is attracting leading academics and significant financial investment," Senator Carr said in a statement.
JCU Vice-Chancellor Professor Sandra Harding said the building was central to JCU’s vision for the study of marine and climate science, as well as public health, tourism and indigenous development.
"Some of the world's leading researchers in social sciences and humanities will work from this building,” Professor Harding said, adding teams from more than 20 academic disciplines could collaborate across JCU's three campuses in Cairns, Townsville and Singapore.
"The Cairns Institute gives concrete expression to the University's position as Australia's University for the tropics,” she said.
"As a repository of regional knowledge and research capacity, it is perfectly positioned to contribute to developing a sustainable quality of life for tropical communities, which account for more than 40 per cent of the world's population."
To date, the value of these projects is $25 million, including $6.5 million from the Australian Research Council (ARC) and $9 million from the National Health and Medical Research Council.
The Cairns Institute building was funded by a $19.5 million grant from the Australian Government and a $5.1 million contribution from JCU.
More information