Centre for biologists to be set up at institute

A NEW resource centre for biologists that would lead to significant job creation is expected to be located at Waterford Institute of Technology.

Senior academics at WIT expect the campus to be confirmed soon as the site for a National Biological Records Centre.

The centre would be an important resource for biologists and all those with an interest in Ireland’s flora and fauna and would bring big business to Waterford.

Detailed discussions have taken place between the Heritage Council and the institute and a report on the project from the council is with Environment Minister Martin Cullen.

The Heritage Council proposed setting up a National Biological Records Centre in a policy document presented to Mr Cullen in December 2003.

The centre is designed to build on long-standing co-operation between all of those who hold biological records and over time it is intended that it will become a central repository.

Ireland is rare among European countries in not having such a centre, which would allow the public access to information on all biological records. These are currently held at various locations by professionals and amateurs and are often inaccessible to researchers.

Waterford Institute of Technology director Professor Kieran R Byrne said the Heritage Council had recommended to Mr Cullen that the centre be located in Waterford as a stand-alone facility based at the institute.

“I understand that the Heritage Council considered this matter at a meeting earlier in June following discussions at the institute on May 31.

“I further understand that they have been convinced by us of the case for locating this important national facility at the institute, where there is already a considerable talent pool in both the environmental sciences area and, importantly, in the whole information and communications technology (ICT) sector, which will be vital given that the vast majority of the centre’s records will be stored electronically.

Prof Byrne said the institute was confident it could form a successful partnership with the Heritage Council. “While it will stand alone and have an independent staff, the centre will add considerably to the institute’s profile at regional, national and international level and it will be well supported by the institute’s infrastructure, particularly the library, the new ICT building, and by the extending research culture at the institute.

“Waterford and the surrounding region should also be pleased at the likelihood of our securing what will be an important facility with a considerable annual budget and research capacity,” he added.

He also noted that the move would be consistent with the Government’s decentralisation policy which will see the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government relocated to the south-east.