Scientists uncovering the secrets of the world’s deepest darkest oceans are looking forward to a dynamic future by celebrating the start of work on a new state of the art £4.4M facility.
Five decades of leading environmental research on the University of Aberdeen's Newburgh site will also be recognised at a special turf cutting ceremony taking place today at Oceanlab, paving the way for Oceanlab 2.
Fifty years ago University researchers moved into Culterty House at Newburgh - just adjacent to Oceanlab which opened in 2001 - with the aim of shaping our understanding of the natural environment.
Over the years research at Newburgh has expanded internationally, discovering new species, furthering our knowledge and now reaching into the deep.
The new facility will bring more researchers to Oceanlab to carry on the tradition of groundbreaking research both close to home in the Ythan Estuary - a Site of Special Scientific Interest within the Forvie National Nature Reserve - as well throughout the world's oceans.
The new build will provide specialised facilities for the study of global carbon cycles from estuaries to the deep sea; exploring what happens to matter when it sinks to the ocean floor.
Scientists will also be able to predict what could happen to the marine environment if the oceans continue to warm, thanks to what's believed to be the world's most advanced 'ocean futures' lab which will be able to simulate predicted changes and fluctuations in ocean temperatures and CO2 levels.
Secure facilities will allow detailed examination of valuable specimens of rare marine creatures including new deep sea species previously unknown to man.
Oceanlab 2 will also house better facilities for teaching the next generation of environmental scientists as well as space for hosting scientific meetings.
The top floor will be taken up with office space for Oceanlab researchers who lead the world in the use of unmanned deep sea vehicles called landers with which they can now reach the maximum ocean depth of 11km.
Around 80 invited guests will gather this afternoon for the turf cutting ceremony. These will include many former staff who worked at the location when it was just the Culterty Field Station.
Professor C Duncan Rice, Principal and Vice Chancellor of the University, will break the ground. He said: "The University of Aberdeen is proud of its pedigree of pioneering environmental and marine research that has emerged from Newburgh over the decades. We look forward to extending that in the years to come with the second phase of Oceanlab."
Professor Monty Priede, Director of Oceanlab, said: "We are tremendously excited about the future at Oceanlab and are extremely proud of our past at Newburgh where Aberdeen scientists first ventured out of their laboratories laying the foundations for what was then the new emerging science of ecology."
Culterty Field Station was opened in 1958 by renowned naturalist Professor Vero Wynne-Edwards who gained international fame with his book "Animal Dispersion" which proposed that social behaviour of animals regulates their numbers so they live in harmony with available resources. This created enormous debate and the opposing school of thought prevailed, believing that all animals are genetically programmed to fight for individual advantage. However Wynne-Edwards' style socio-biology is currently experiencing a revival with support from leading biologists.
The late Professor George Dunnet, the first Director of Culterty, presided over a remarkable school of researchers who produced standard works on the lives of all the animals living in the surrounding area: mammals, birds, fishes, molluscs, shrimps and worms, culminating in an analysis of all levels of the food chain.
Professor Dunnet's wife Margaret – affectionately known by many as 'Mom' – will also attend the ceremony. For many years she and her husband lived on the premises looking after all the students and staff as if they were all one big family.
- The architects for the new building are Aberdeen based George Watt & Stewart who also designed Oceanlab. Burns Construction (Aberdeen) Ltd have been appointed as main contractor for the project.