Minister to open centre

Press, 10 April 1987, Page 13

Minister to open centre

The Minister of Science and Technology, Mr Tizard, will open the new Canterbury Agriculture and Science Centre at Lincoln today. The centre has been built to replace the 50-year-old buildings of D.S.I.R. at Lincoln and to provide a new headquarters for M.A.F. tech., the research arm of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries for the northern South Island. The $l4-million centre will enable collaboration between research and education, and the various disciplines within Lincoln College, the Wool Research Organisation, private-industry research establishments and the Canterbury Agriculture and Science Centre to enter a new era. As many of the problems facing scientists become more difficult and

expertise becomes more specialised, the collaboration of a centre for scientific and agricultural research and education becomes-more important The new building enables staff from D.S.I.R. and M.A.F. to share the same cafetaria, meeting rooms, etc., and while retaining different laboratories, to suit the different branches of research, they can at the same time share larger, more expen- . sive equipment where there is a need. The buildings house about 260 research staff, 45 support staff in 35 laboratories, 130 offices and various other special facilities. Both the D.S.I.R. and Lincoln College have provided land for the M.A.F. research, and the new Centre now includes 310 ha of land. After the official opening, the Minister and

other invited guests will be conducted around the building to view aspects of research programmes under way. This Sunday, the centre will be open to the public and there will be 27 displays on research activities, as well as opportunities for the public to have weeds identified, pests and diseases from their gardens diagnosed and

“cures” recommended. Disabled visitors will be especially welcomed to visit the Show. However, access to some displays will be limited on Sunday. Persons in wheelchairs would be advised to visit on Monday, April 13, from 8.30 a.m. to 1 p.m., when access to all displays will be easier. School parties will also be touring on the Monday morning.