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A ceremony to mark the commencement of construction for The University of Western Australia's new $6.2 million Sciences Centre will be held on Friday 25 March at 2pm at the UWA Albany Centre, 35 Stirling Tce.

The new sciences facility - housing UWA's Centre of Excellence in Natural Resource Management, the Rural Clinical School of WA and associated research, teaching and training programs - will offer the Albany community better access to a high-quality university education.

The new facility will enhance collaborative partnerships between UWA, the City of Albany, the Great Southern Development Commission, other universities, government agencies and the wider community.

"The very strong support of the community has been the hallmark of The University of Western Australia's presence in Albany since day one.  Our new Sciences Centre helps achieve our goal of bringing regional and academic strengths together to produce graduates and research outcomes that enhance the sustainability of the Great Southern region," said Vice-Chancellor Professor Alan Robson.

The Minister for Regional Development and Lands, Hon Brendon Grylls MLA said the UWA Sciences Building is the culmination of more than a decade of work by many organisations and individuals, including the Great Southern Development Commission (GSDC).

"An $800,000 grant approved by then Minister Hendy Cowan through the GSDC kicked off the UWA Albany Centre in 1999, and $1.5 million of Royalties for Regions funding for the Sciences Centre will now help to build the long-term future of tertiary education and research in the Great Southern," Mr Grylls said.

The new Sciences Centre will provide additional classrooms, a science-medical library and resource room, a multi-purpose practical science-medical teaching and research laboratory, tutorial and seminar rooms and academic offices.

The building has been designed to be sympathetic to the adjacent historic Old Post Office in scale and materials.

The first sod will be turned on the site by Winthrop Professor Jane Long, Pro Vice-Chancellor (Education) and Dr Alex Campbell, Chair of the UWA Albany Foundation.

Media references

Paula Phillips (UWA Albany Centre)  (+61 8)  9842 0810
Janine MacDonald (UWA Public Affairs)  (+61 8)  6488 5563  /  (+61 4) 32 637 716