Media Release
December 9 2010
UniSA leads the charge in environmental cleanup
UniSA
researchers will develop new approaches to sustainable management of
contaminated sites and innovative green technologies for site
remediation thanks to major environmental research funding announced
today by the Federal Government.
UniSA is delighted by
Minister Kim Carr’s announcement today that the Cooperative Research
Centre for Contamination Assessment and Remediation of the Environment (CRC
CARE) has been successful in attracting Commonwealth support for a
further nine years.
The extended CRC has received $29 million from the Cooperative Research
Centres Programme to focus on the development of remediation
technologies, building upon its six years’ experience developing risk
based approaches to the assessment of environmental contamination.
Industry and research partners have contributed an additional $148
million in cash and in kind over the life of the extended CRC.
Led by Managing Director Professor Ravi Naidu, CRC CARE is headquartered
at UniSA’s
Mawson Lakes campus. UniSA scientists and PhD students work in the
CRC.
CRC CARE is a collaborative venture involving industry and government
owners of contaminated sites, regulators, consultants, SMEs and
researchers. End-user partners include the Australian Institute of
Petroleum, BHP Billiton, Rio Tinto and the Department of Defence, among
many others.
The unique partnership also sees the involvement of most State
Environmental Protection Agencies, and consulting companies working in
site remediation activities. A significant China program also points to
the global impact of the CRC’s work.
In congratulating the successful team, UniSA’s Vice Chancellor Professor
Peter Høj pointed to CRC CARE’s track record of outstanding
research.
“With over 60 per cent of CRC CARE’s research output in top ranked
journals, the CRC has demonstrated that research targeted at creating
industry solutions can also be of the highest international quality,”
Prof Høj says.
Deputy Vice Chancellor Research and Innovation, Professor
Caroline McMillen also highlighted the successful collaboration
between partner universities, and welcomed the addition of the CSIRO and
the National Measurements Institute to the CRC.
“UniSA has invested significantly in the research infrastructure and
capability needed for the partnership to succeed, including a first
class $20m research building,” Prof McMillen says.
“We are delighted to be working with our partner universities and
research organisations in this CRC to help solve the major national and
international problem of environmental contamination.”
Contact for interview
- Professor Ravi Naidu office (08) 8302 5041 mobile 0407 720 257
Media contact
- Kelly Stone office (08) 8302 0963 mobile 0417 861 832 email kelly.stone@unisa.edu.au