Exter University is proposing to invest in a new facility on the Penryn Campus that will build on the success of the Environment and Sustainability Institute (ESI), expanding their 'future research and teaching'.

The university said: "Our goal is for our Penryn Campus to have a global reputation of expertise in sustainability, where we deliver practical solutions to create a just and sustainable future and solve world-wide environmental issues.

"The new three-storey facility is fundamental to our Strategy 2030 ambition to grow our research, education, and partnership activities in Cornwall." 

The building will include a new lecture theatre to increase capacity for undergraduate and postgraduate teaching, as well as specialist, state-of-the-art laboratories and collaborative space that will enable the university to deliver new, interconnected programmes of learning that are focussed on Future Sustainable Skills and build on existing programmes across all three faculties.

Plans for the new Laboratory. (Image: Exeter University)

The spaces are said to create an enhanced student experience and allow opportunities for the students to flourish, with flexible learning spaces, research-led experiences, and skills-orientated programmes that meet the demands of a rapidly changing economy. 

The increased laboratory space will also allow Microbiology Research Group to substantially grow its environmental and human health areas of research, train the next generation of environmentalists, and engage further with businesses. 

Exeter University is hoping this will be a boost for Cornwall and said: "We aim to support the region in becoming an international hub for net zero, clean growth, and nature recovery. The investment in Penryn will allow us to align our research and teaching with regional priorities so that we can take a leading role in the prosperity and success of the region. "

The university was also happy to share that stainability and reducing carbon emissions are fundamental to the design of the new facility. This project has an ambition to achieve Passivhaus which drives rigorous low-energy design standards, demonstrating our commitment to carbon net-zero. 

You can follow updates here: Penryn 2.0 | Capital Strategy | University of Exeter