Sustainable chemistry building opens at Monash

Monash University this week opened its new Green Chemical Futures building, in a ceremony attended by Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Education and Training Scott Ryan.

Green Chemical Futures is a multidisciplinary innovation hub dedicated to supporting Australia’s academic and industrial research within the chemicals sector, thus enabling the expansion of Australia’s ‘green workforce’. According to Ryan, the new building will “significantly enhance Australia’s research capabilities within the chemicals and plastics sector”.

The building is intended to act as a catalyst for new ideas, providing a stimulating environment where industry and academia collaborate. Ryan said the facility will be “at the forefront of delivering the benefits from scientists engaging with industry and vice versa … something which the government is keen to encourage”.

The first two levels of the 9500 m² building house innovative teaching and collaborative learning spaces, while research laboratories and facilities are located on the upper levels. The building also houses the Victorian Centre for Sustainable Chemical Manufacturing; the Graduate Research Interdisciplinary Program; and the Training and Innovation hub of the Chemicals and Plastics Innovation Network.

“The opening of the Green Chemical Futures hub signifies Monash’s position as a world leader in sustainable chemistry research and teaching,” said Monash University President and Vice-Chancellor Professor Margaret Gardner AO. “It provides an engaging and high-tech environment in which students, academics and industry professionals teach, learn and collaborate to help make the world a better place.”