New developments on campus

Lancaster Environment Centre (LEC)

This £20m LEC project has brought together environmental researchers of international reputation from the University and NERC’s Centre for Ecology and Hydrology Merlewood and CEH Windemere to form one of the largest groups of its kind anywhere in Europe.

Nearly 300 researchers and teachers from disciplines across the natural and applied sciences, social and management sciences and engineering have combined under the Lancaster Environment Centre to provide unique multi-disciplinary insight into causes, impacts and solutions for many of the world’s major environmental problems. The LEC provides an intellectual and infra-structural focus for many diverse kinds of environmental research.

The building for some of the researchers in the LEC is a joint investment by NERC and the University. It has state-of-the-art controlled environment facilities, specialised laboratories, fifteen glasshouses, and cutting-edge equipment to allow integrative studies of terrestrial, aquatic and atmospheric systems. Researchers will be supported by unrivalled facilities for chemical, biochemical and biological analysis, a substantial pool of first class equipment and data management software, all of which will allow systems analysis from the molecular to global scales.

The LEC is a centre of excellence for research and teaching in a range of disciplines. The project also encourages interdisciplinary collaboration between Departments, Institutes and Centres.

INFOLAB21 - NEW NORTH WEST ICT CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE

Lancaster University is developing a brand new £15 million world class centre of excellence in Information and Communication Technology (ICT), with backing from the Northwest Development Agency (NWDA) and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).

The building complex, to be known as InfoLab21, will be completed by Autumn 2004 and will provide new research facilities for computing and telecommunications. In addition, the project will provide facilities for technology transfer and incubation of high tech companies based on University expertise.

InfoLab21 is designed to have a substantial impact on the area, improving computing skills and creating a cluster of related technology businesses.

250 academics, research assistants and research students from two top ranking University Departments - the Computing Department and the Department of Communications Systems - will be relocating to the new building. The Knowledge Business Centre will also operate out of InfoLab21.

Institute for Advanced Studies in Management and Social Sciences

Lancaster University has announced the establishment of the Institute for Advanced Studies in Management and Social Sciences as an international centre of excellence. Its broad programme of activities is the only one of its kind in the UK.

The Institute brings together staff from 5* and 5 departments in the Faculty of Social Sciences with the top rated Management School. It will also encourage cooperation with researchers from the Arts and Humanities. The Institute will be part of a new research centre in the refurbished Bigland block in Cartmel College (currently student residences) and will be housed on the first floor. The ground floor will provide a ‘front door’ for the Social Science Faculty research activity and the second and third floors will host interdisciplinary research groups.