Cefas and the University of Exeter sign strategic alliance
Reference: 01-12
10 January 2012
The Centre for Environment, Fisheries & Aquaculture Science
(Cefas) and the University of Exeter sealed a strategic
collaboration today (10 January 2012). The two institutes have
signed an official agreement to combine their complementary
capabilities and perspectives.
The signing session at the University of Exeter has formalised
an existing collaboration between Cefas and the University of
Exeter, which already includes lecturing opportunities, student
placements and pursuing joint research projects. The alliance
agreement is for five years.
Signing the Strategic
Alliance
Pictured left to right: Professor Rick Titball, Professor of
Molecular Microbiology, University of Exeter; Professor Nick
Talbot, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, University of Exeter; Professor
Mark Goodwin, Dean of the College of Life and Environmental
Sciences, University of Exeter; Cefas Chief Executive Dr Richard
Judge; and Dr Stephen Irving, Divisional Director, Aquatic Health
and Hygience, Cefas
Cefas Chief Executive Dr Richard Judge said: "We're already
seeing excellent collaboration between Exeter and Cefas. I'm
delighted to be reinforcing this through a longer-term commitment.
Bringing our respective strengths together helps us to get even
more value from our research capabilities, bringing value to wider
society and our scientists alike."
The University of Exeter's Deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor Nick
Talbot said: "The collaboration is great news for Exeter. It not
only provides access to applied scientific research teams at Cefas,
but also provides opportunities for our students and researchers to
utilise marine samples collected by Cefas. Importantly, it also
enables us to demonstrate the impact of our work to government
policy-makers and a range of stakeholders."
Over the past few years the two institutions have worked
together in a wide range of areas from jointly teaching on Exeter
MSc courses and student participation on scientific marine cruises
to joint research projects on ocean acidification, aquatic
toxicology and marine organism diseases.
A workshop between the two institutions in 2011 explored a
number of areas of mutual interest, including opportunities to
develop future bids for research into marine bacteria and human
health, chemicals and climate change, marine food, crustacean
diseases, and micro-algae.
Dr Judge continues: "Cefas' ability to innovate and to draw
together high-quality science from a range of partners is
fundamental to the advice we provide for government. The outputs
from our alliance with Exeter will influence strategic
policy-making and provide insight into a range of topics, from
marine climate change impacts to invasive non-native species and
human health.
"It will make a difference for society by supporting the
long-term prosperity and the well-being of industries, communities
and individuals that enjoy and depend on the natural assets found
in our marine and freshwater environments."
Notes to Editors:
- Cefas is the government's foremost source of evidence, applied
science and impartial expert advice for marine and closely related
aquatic environments. Operating as an executive agency of the
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), Cefas
has an internationally renowned scientific capability developed
over more than 100 years. It has two main laboratories, in
Lowestoft and Weymouth, and operates out of a number of port
offices around the English coastline. Cefas works alongside
government and other agencies, both in the UK and internationally,
to play a vital role in securing healthy marine and freshwater
environments for everyone's well-being, health and prosperity. For
more about its range of applied marine science visit www.cefas.defra.gov.uk.
- The University of Exeter is a leading UK university and in the
top one percent of institutions globally. It combines world-class
research with very high levels of student satisfaction. Exeter is
ranked 9th in The Sunday Times University Guide, 10th in
the UK in The Times Good University Guide 2012 and 11th in
the Guardian University Guide 2012. In the 2008
Research Assessment Exercise (RAE) 90% of the University's research
was rated as being at internationally recognised levels and 16 of
its 31 subjects are ranked in the top 10, with 27 subjects ranked
in the top 20.
- The University has over 17,000 students and is developing its
campuses in Exeter and Cornwall with almost £350 million worth of
new facilities due for completion by 2012. www.exeter.ac.uk
- For further information or to request pictures or interviews,
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