Availability of Integrated Renewable Energy facility to be announced at research evening

The availability of a new renewable energy facility at USQ will be announced by the University's Chancellor tonight (November 5) as part of a Community Engaged Research Evening at USQ.

Chancellor Mrs Bobbie Brazil will officially announce the availability of the facility, which will be available to researchers at USQ, community groups and also be used as a resource for all schools within the region.

The facility, which is expected to be completed by early 2009, will also work to enhance research being undertaken by USQ's new Sustainable Innovation Energy Group (SIEG).

'This facility that will be built will help our group continue our research into a number of different renewable energy areas, including the storage of energy, and the minimisation of greenhouse gases,' SIEG member and USQ Faculty of Engineering and Surveying Associate Professor David Buttsworth said.

'The motivation behind the facility and our group was stimulated by the current environmental and energy needs of Australia and the hope is that it will not just be available for us but also those outside USQ who are interested in these issues.'

Funding for the facility, which is in final stages of development, has been generously provided by the Chancellor's family and also the Faculty of Engineering and Surveying.

'We have been operating as a group for about five months and in that time we have begun a number of different research projects,' Associate Professor Buttsworth said.

'These projects include not only work here at USQ but also research that we are doing with industry who we hope to build strong ties with through the group and also the new facility.'

Meanwhile a further 162 research projects will be showcased as part of the research evening with contributions from all of USQ's faculties and research centres.

'This is a first for USQ to make its research known to its communities and all of the faculties and centres will be represented,' Pro Vice Chancellor (Research) Dean Faculty of Engineering and Surveying, Professor Frank Bullen said.

'In 2007 we had 336 publications and a research income of over $5 million and we hope to grow that with the University investing $1.5 million in the next three years for Research Scholarships.'

The Community Engaged Research Evening will commence at 6pm tonight (November 5) in USQ's refectory, with media welcome to attend the event.

Media Contact: Josh Ada, USQ Media, +61 7 4631 2559