Joint Adelaide-China laboratory opens
Professor Bojie Fu, Division Chief, Bureau of Resource and Environmental Science & Technology, CAS, and Professor Edwina Cornish, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research), Adelaide.
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Thursday, 7 November 2002
The University of Adelaide has opened its newest laboratory, in China!
A joint laboratory of Soil Environmental Science has been established between the University of Adelaide and the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) in Beijing.
The new laboratory, at the Academy's Research Center for Eco- Environmental Sciences, is believed to be the first joint facility of its kind between China and Australia.
The initiative is the brainchild of Professor Zhu Yongguan, who moved to the Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences after working at the University of Adelaide's Department of Soil and Water.
Closer research links between the University and the Chinese Academy will result from the move, including research on environmental issues important to both Australia and China, and reciprocal visits by senior scientists, postdoctoral fellows and postgraduate students.
The new laboratory was opened by Professor Fu Bojie, representing CAS, Professor Zhao Jingzhu, Director of the Research Center, and Professor Edwina Cornish, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) University of Adelaide.
Also present were Ms Katharine Campbell, representing the Australian Embassy, Beijing, Professor Liu Jian, Director, Department of Eco- Environmenal Science, CAS, Professor Cao Jinghua, Director, Department of American and Oceanian Affairs, CAS, Professors Sally and Andrew Smith and Drs Rob Reid, Petra Marschner, Julie Hayes and Gao Lingling, University of Adelaide.
The opening and celebratory banquet which followed were attended by delegates at an International Workshop on Soil-Plant Interactions, organised by CAS and the University, at which about 50 papers were presented, with authors from 12 countries.
In congratulating the partners, Ms Campell highlighted the importance placed on such projects by the Australian Government in building productive alliances, and the importance of such links in education as well as exploitation of new technologies and commercial interactions.
Speakers acknowledged the support and encouragement of Professor Malcolm Oades, formerly Dean of the Faculty of Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences, and Mr Hugh McClelland, International Relations Manager, University of Adelaide, both of whom visited Beijing during the development of the project.
Speakers also emphasised that the project gives excellent opportunities for extension beyond the current emphasis on soil biology and plant nutrition into wider areas of environmental science and technology in which the partners share expertise.
For further information contact
Professor Sally Smith
Telephone: +61 (8) 8303 7210
or Professor Zhu Yongguan
Telephone +8 6 (10) 6293 6940
