£250,000 for Centre of Excellence in Cornwall

The new £12m building, named after the pioneering Cornish scientist Stella Turk, MSc, MBE (1925-2017), will help tackle global challenges by bringing together scientists, engineers, lawyers, energy and business experts with a focus on policy change, and applied and fundamental research.

Officially opened on 27 February, it houses more than 250 researchers, working across disciplines. It provides capacity for the Exeter Business School and Law in Cornwall, as well as the University’s outstanding teams in renewable energy and energy policy, ecology and conservation, and geology. This increased collaboration across research disciplines will facilitate discoveries reducing the global burden of pollution and improve future environmental and human health.

Professor David Hosken, Dean of Strategic Development of the Cornwall Campuses, said: “From its inception, the Penryn Campus has continually expanded its research endeavours and now accounts for 20% of the University’s overall research activity. However this success has created pressure on existing research space.

“The Stella Turk building allows us to build on our research strengths and further expand our research capabilities in sustainability. It will also help us to engage with local businesses and enterprises, increasing our contribution to the Cornish knowledge economy and helping to create jobs and wealth in the local area.

“We are incredibly grateful to the Garfield Weston Foundation for their contribution and for helping us realise our ambitious plans to provide outstanding research facilities in Penryn.”

The Garfield Weston Foundation visited the site in 2018 and were impressed with the work done by academics in this field.

The Foundation’s Director, Philippa Charles, said: “We are delighted to support this new facility in Cornwall and to encourage the University’s work towards finding sustainable solutions to environmental challenges.