Dr Jane Goodall to open UEA’s new state-of-the-art science building
By: News Archive
The University of East Anglia’s (UEA) New Science Building will be officially opened by one of the world’s most prominent and respected scientists at an event later this month.
Dr Jane Goodall will be declaring the building open on Thursday 24 October at 12pm in front of an audience of UEA students and staff, including Vice-Chancellor Prof David Richardson and Prof Ben Garrod, presenter and Professor of Evolutionary Biology and Science Engagement, and guests.
The group will then tour the building, with students and staff displaying some of their work in the teaching labs, before VC Richardson unveils a commemorative plaque in the building’s atrium.
The New Science Building is UEA’s £30 million state-of-the-art teaching and learning building. It has a floor span of over 7,000m2 and is located on campus at the bottom of Chancellor’s Drive, next to the Julian Study Centre.
Three of its four floors contain teaching laboratories, with the ground floor consisting of seminar rooms. These are already being used by students and staff across science subjects including Environmental Sciences, Computing, Biology, Physics, Engineering, Chemistry and Pharmacy.
Dr Jane Goodall DBE began her landmark study of wild chimpanzees at Gombe in Tanzania in 1960 and that research continues today nearly 60 years later. She is also a United Nations Messenger of Peace and Dame of the British Empire and established the Jane Goodall Institute in 1977, which has advanced her research and built on her innovative approach to conservation.
In 1991, Dr Goodall founded Roots & Shoots with 12 high school students in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. The project is now active in more than 50 countries, empowering young people of all ages to become involved in hands-on projects for the community, animals and the environment.
Dr Goodall said: “I am delighted to have the opportunity to see this new building today and look forward to developing an ongoing relationship with UEA and discussing the potential for Roots & Shoots.”
The building can also lay claim to being one of the most accessible at any university in the country, with UEA’s Access All Areas network, the University’s forum for disabled staff members and students, having been consulted throughout the project.
It is one of the few buildings among UK universities to have a Changing Place, a changing facility for people unable to use standard accessible toilets which gives them more space and equipment, including a height adjustable changing bench and a hoist.
Other features include a ramped entrance, two disabled toilets on every floor, all laboratories being fully wheelchair accessible, hearing loops in every teaching space and all doors being motor assisted.
Dr Katherine Deane, Access Ambassador and senior lecturer in the School of Health Sciences at UEA, said: “A lot of the accessible features in the New Science Building seem like minor innovations to a lot of people but they make such a huge difference to those who really need them.
“Over 8% of UEA students have a declared disability, and they have the same rights to access education as anyone else, so it’s fantastic that they have been considered from the outset and we’ve delivered a building that is accessible for everyone on our campus and beyond.”
Prof Mark Searcey, Pro-Vice Chancellor for Science at UEA, said: “The New Science building has some of the best facilities in the UK that complement the excellent teaching from our Science faculty and the superb support from our technical staff. This is a massive boost to the experience that our students can enjoy.”
Local construction firm R G Carter carried out the building work on the project, with FBM Architects responsible for the building's design.
Paul Hamilton of R G Carter said: “It has been a pleasure to work with the university on another forward-thinking and unique project. Supporting the university’s vision for providing state-of-the-art teaching spaces, this new facility will encourage collaboration between students and staff from different disciplines, and for the benefit of future generations.”
Dr Goodall is visiting Norwich to give the sold-out headline talk at this year’s Norwich Science Festival, which runs from Friday 18 October – Saturday 26 October. The festival is in its fourth year and is a partnership initiative organised by The Forum with support from partners including Norwich Research Park and UEA.
Her appearance will be a discussion with Prof Garrod, entitled ‘Reasons For Hope’, which will centre around her work and that of her institute, as well as the future of conservation and the impact our actions have on the environment.
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