A new Earth Sciences Teaching Laboratory opened today at Monash University in Melbourne will train a new generation of technologically literate, job-ready geoscientists, Innovation Minister Senator Kim Carr said.
The $1 million laboratory is funded through the Australian Government’s Learning and Teaching Performance Fund.
“Monash is Australia’s largest university with an international reputation for excellence in a host of disciplines – including one of the best earth sciences departments in Australia,” Senator Carr said.
“There is no better time to be investing in the development of earth sciences skills. The global recession may have taken the gloss off the minerals boom, but the resource sector will always be critical to Australia’s economy.
“Our continued success as a minerals producer depends very much on the availability of well-trained geologists and geophysicists.
“This Australian-first laboratory will give students access to the kind of information and technology they will use out in the field.
“It means that students who study here can hit the ground running.
“Geoscientists play a crucial role in tackling climate change by providing us with insights into how our planet works.
“They also extend our understanding of, and our ability to mitigate, the effects of natural disasters.
“Geoscientists are leading the development of carbon capture and sequestration technologies, which rely on geoscientists to identify sites suitable for the geological storage of carbon dioxide and model what will happen to the gas once it’s injected.
"The laboratory gives students access to modelling and visualisation tools needed to develop hands-on experience with problem-solving and complex processes.
“Not only will this facility support today’s students; it will also encourage others to study the geosciences, thereby adding to Australia’s stock of high-quality earth science professionals,” Senator Carr said.
A copy of Senator Carr’s address is available at www.minister.innovation.gov.au.
Media contacts: Patrick Pantano, Minister's Office, 0417 181 936
David Luchetti, Department, 02 6213 6068, 0411 021 135