New tropical science research hub for Queensland

Tropical research in Queensland received a boost today with a ceremony to mark the start of construction of the A$32 million Australian Tropical Science and Innovation Precinct (ATSIP) at James Cook University in Townsville.

CSIRO's Agribusiness Group Leader, Dr Joanne Daly, said CSIRO, JCU and the Queensland Government had committed significant resources to the development of ATSIP.

“The Precinct will position Australia as the pre-eminent provider of tropical science knowledge to industries and communities in the world’s tropics, particularly those in the Asia-Pacific region,” she said.

JCU’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sandra Harding, said ATSIP would co-locate two of Australia’s premier research organisations, CSIRO and JCU, thereby enabling them to collaborate on overcoming barriers to establishing sustainable natural resource use in the tropics.