In a bold new initiative, the University and the Scottish Crop Research Institute (SCRI) have announced a new development that reinforces and extends existing collaborations in plant based research and teaching.
The first stage in the development is the re-location of the plant research unit from the school of life sciences to the SCRI site at Invergowrie. The four research groups that have moved are led by John Raven, Claire Halpin, Andrew Flavell and Hamlyn Jones
The move relocates these four groups of plant scientists to what is a major international centre for plant research with state-of-the-art laboratory, glasshouse and field trial facilities. SCRI, with a staff of approximately 400, is the largest plant-based institute in Scotland and northern Britain, with unrivalled skills in basic, strategic and applied research in plant genetic, environmental and microbial sciences.
This move will catalyze increased interaction and synergy between the university and SCRI staff, raising the profile of plant and environment-related scientific research in Tayside.
The collaboration will bring considerable, demonstrable mutual benefits to both organisations. The initiative creates a shared vision for the future development of plant related research, education and training within the university. It is intended that the initiative will provide new opportunities for securing additional funding as well as contributing to the development of a vibrant postgraduate school for plant and environmental sciences.