The Aberdeen Research Consortium (ARC) will play host to The Scottish Parliament at its New Horizons event this week (Wednesday 29 May). The event will introduce MSPs and invited guests to the broad range of collaborative research being undertaken in and around Aberdeen, and explain the important contribution that it makes to training, investment and job creation in the North East.
The New Horizons event will focus on three themes in which Aberdeen has a particular strength: Energy, Environment and Life Sciences. Throughout the event, interactive displays, exhibits and presentations will showcase the research.
Professor Jim Prosser, Director of Research at ARC, welcomes the event and the visit by MSPs. "The New Horizons event will give us the opportunity to present cutting-edge research being undertaken in Aberdeen.
"ARC's members are successful in winning considerable funding from a wide variety of funding agencies and this in itself generates substantial employment and training opportunities. Research within each of the themes also provides significant potential for commercialisation, spin-out company formation and consequent job creation.
"The co-ordination and integration of world-class research activities in diverse establishments is greatly enhancing the quality and quantity of research in the Aberdeen area, while commercial exploitation is leading to development of new skills, company formation and job creation."
One of the areas of research to be highlighted at the event will be Energy. Both optimistic and pessimistic scenarios concerning the future of North Sea oil and gas production, and likely requirements for increasing gas imports will be uncovered. Also being presented will be the use of 3D/4D seismic and long reach drilling; improved understanding of High Pressure/High Temperature (HPHT) reservoirs; and measures to improve energy efficiency. The potential for renewable energy to "replace" North Sea oil and gas production will also be highlighted through research into tidal stream power and impact assessment of wind energy.
In Life Sciences, there will be displays of research into medicine and applied biology. One highlight will be an exhibit of research into obesity. The University has a major international centre for obesity research investigating the mechanisms controlling energy balance and the role of diet will demonstrate 'why we get fat', and allow guests to measure their metabolic rate.
Under the Environment banner, amongst other research, there will be exhibits and interactive displays which illustrate the use of genomics to develop new fish vaccines and a spin-out company using bioinformatics to discover new drugs and therapeutics in microbial culture collections. Highlights of ongoing research include a demonstration of an unmanned 'lander', used to discover new life forms on the ocean floor. Other examples of research include issues common to Scotland and the Arctic, measuring sensitivity to environmental change and pollution; and the sustainable use of natural resources and environmental and human effects of socio-economic change.
The New Horizons event will take place from 5.30-7.00pm, in the Elphinstone Hall, University of Aberdeen, on 29 May 2002. Members of the media are welcome to attend. Further information on the event can be obtained by calling the Directorate of Marketing at Aberdeen University on 01224 274444 or e-mailing events@abdn.ac.uk