New research future on Kangaroo Island
Positive regeneration following bushfires in 2019
The University of Adelaide’s School of Biological Sciences has partnered with the state government to build a state-of-the-art research facility on Kangaroo Island.
The Flinders-Baudin Research Centre forms part of the new Flinders Chase National Park Visitor Centre at Karatta, replacing the facility at Rocky River which was destroyed by bushfires in 2019.
University of Adelaide's Associate Professor Diego Garcia-Bellido, School of Biological Sciences; Leanne Haller, School of Biological Sciences; Professor Andrew Lowe, Director, Environment Institute; Professor Bob Hill, School of Biological Sciences; Paul Smith, Infrastructure; Professor Sean Connell, School of Biological Sciences at the new Flinders-Baudin Research Centre at Kangaroo Island.
University staff from the School of Biological Sciences were on hand to officially celebrate the opening of the centre on Friday, 5 July.
The $2 million research centre has a laboratory, administration area and bunk-style accommodation for 10 people and is a key feature in the University’s long running connection with Kangaroo Island.
It is also a green facility made of bushfire-resistant timbers and has the capacity to generate and store power which includes electric vehicle charging, as well as rainwater storage.
“It’s been a great pleasure to partner with the Department for Environment and Water to help with the recovery of this site,” said the University of Adelaide’s Professor Andrew Lowe, Director, Environment Institute.
“Facilities like this really gives us an opportunity to locate students on KI. We have 27 academics who will do their research at the facility, and with them comes numerous post-doctoral researchers and PhD students.
“We also have undergraduate students who attend the facility each year and stay for field camps, where they learn more about the natural environment and start to do their first projects as part of their courses.
“From that, perhaps they move on to a research career or move into a career with national parks where they are managing assets.”
The ceremony was attended by Tourism and Multicultural Affairs Minister Zoe Bettison; Local MP Leon Bignell; Kangaroo Island mayor Michael Pengilly; and South Australian Deputy Premier and Minister for Climate, Environment and Water - the Honourable Susan Close MP - who strongly endorsed the partnership between the Department for Environment and Water and the University of Adelaide.