Thursday, March 28, 2024

Lincoln’s flagship science facility gets underway

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Breaking ground for a new flagship science facility has ensured Lincoln University will equip coming generations with the knowledge and skills needed to grow a better future.
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The university ceremonially broke the first ground on its flagship science facility at an on-campus event this week.

Acting vice-chancellor Professor Bruce McKenzie says significant growth in domestic student numbers, clear government support and a raised awareness of the importance of the agritech industry to New Zealand’s economic development have all factored into Lincoln’s increased profile as a world-ranked land-based university.

The ground-breaking ceremony capped off a 10-year journey for the university, beginning with the Canterbury earthquakes of 2010 and 2011, and concluding with formal government approval for the construction of the new facility.

“Lincoln University has been producing primary sector graduates for more than 140 years and we remain dedicated to equipping coming generations with the knowledge and skills needed to grow a better future,” McKenzie said.

“It’s only appropriate that we deliver our world-leading education and research from a science facility built for the ages.”

Lincoln has long been a chief driver of innovation in the agritech sector, particularly in the food and fibre industries.

“Our new facilities will position us to take an even more prominent role in developing solutions for the world’s most pressing environmental challenges,” he said.

The official government approval, confirmed by Education Minister Chris Hipkins and Finance Minister Grant Robertson in September last year, reflected the Government’s support for the university and signalled the important role it continues to play in shaping a more productive and sustainable future for NZ.

The fundamental change brought by covid-19 across many sectors of NZ’s agriculture industry in the past 12 months has triggered a steeply rising demand for tertiary education in the land-based sciences.

“Lincoln University, as a globally-ranked land-based university, is strategically placed to capitalise on increased demand for agricultural qualifications from both students and employers,” he said.

“While our international enrolments have predictably declined due to the pandemic, our domestic student numbers have grown significantly.”

New domestic undergraduate student enrolments are up 33% on the same time last year, with a record 344% increase for new domestic postgraduate students.

Construction on the new building begins next month and is expected to be completed in mid-2023.

The fit-for-future science facility will feature state of the art teaching, research and collaboration spaces, complemented by multi-use adjustable workstations and social zones, all set within a regenerative and bio-diverse park-like environment.

In line with the university’s sustainable infrastructure goals, the new flagship science building will have a minimal environmental impact, incorporating roof-mounted and wall-mounted solar arrays, a ground-source air conditioning system and a rainwater-fed bathroom flushing system in its design.

Lincoln is the only NZ university to achieve a ranking on the UI Green Metric World University Rankings, currently ranked 51 out of 912 universities.

In partnership with Meridian Energy, Lincoln has recently boosted its commercial-scale solar energy generating capability with several roof-mounted solar installations already delivering 250,000 kWh of clean renewable energy to the campus network each year.

The new science facilities are part of a wider campus development programme for the university that has already seen the launch of a vibrant new student hub and an expansive new outdoor events space featuring native plantings and a cultural heritage-inspired paved pathway.

The university’s redeveloped gym will offer significantly enhanced fitness, training and wellbeing support to the Lincoln community on its completion in the coming weeks.

Further campus projects, including a comprehensive decarbonisation programme which supports the university’s goal to be carbon neutral by 2030 and to cease the combustion of coal by 2024, the restoration of Ivey West and memorial hall and an overarching visionary landscaping masterplan, are in various stages of development.

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