New Science Building

A NEW VISION FOR SCIENCE

Our recently appointed Pro-Vice Chancellor for Science, Professor Mark Searcey, shares his vision for UEA’s innovative new integrated teaching labs.

ince UEA’s earliest days, our science students have been taught in the Lasdun Teaching Wall. From the beginning, this was a space designed to encourage cross-disciplinary learning. Over the years, thousands of students on different courses have rubbed shoulders here.

Today, that same inclusive spirit is driving our impressive New Science Building. Just like the Lasdun Teaching Wall, which is located next door, this is a space fundamentally designed with cross-disciplinary learning at its heart. Here, we will help to train a new generation of STEM graduates – and address the ongoing unmet demand for recruitment within the scientific industries. Professor Mark Searcey, Pro-Vice Chancellor for Science, gives readers a behind-the-scenes look at the new building, and explains his vision for science at UEA.

Hello Mark. What is your vision for the New Science Building?

Science is increasingly inter-disciplinary. Today’s breakthroughs are happening at the interfaces between different disciplines – be that maths and engineering, or chemistry and biology. The New Science Building is a cutting-edge facility that will give students an idea of what it is like to work in such a high-tech industry. They’ll be at the very frontiers of science!

How will that integration be encouraged?

Architecturally, the building has been specifically designed to facilitate social interactions and break down barriers between courses and subjects. When it comes to practical teaching, the labs are for everyone in the Science Faculty. Students on any course will learn in the lab most appropriate for what they’re studying – when our pharmacy students are learning about pharmacology and cell biology, they’ll be taught in specialised biology labs by pharmacologists. Everyone will have access to the wealth of people, equipment and expertise we will have here.

How was the work made possible?

The building is due to open to students later in 2019, thanks in no small part to the generosity of Difference Campaign donors. Their gifts will help UEA remain at the forefront of scientific education for years to come, and help us make sure that our 3,000 STEM students receive the best possible experience.

How will it improve teaching?

Being taught in the new building’s large, dynamic spaces will give students a real benefit. It will allow us to run both large and small classes with a firm emphasis on practical teaching. We’ll be promoting interactive learning and, as I said, multi-disciplinary collaboration. The facilities are fantastic and the building will contain the latest learning technology, such as microscopes that display on screens around the lab.

Could you speak about how research fits in?

The New Science Building is going to benefit hugely from its proximity to the research prowess we have at UEA – both on campus and with our colleagues at the Norwich Research Park. Students will learn in labs that more closely resemble those in the leading biomedical research institutions we have here. And our researchers will find that our students are even better prepared when they come to conduct their own projects or take up research positions.

Will employers see a benefit too?

Jobs in science, research, engineering and technology are expected to rise twice as fast as other occupations before 2023. That’s why our equipment and facilities are designed around those of the workplace – we want our students to be the most well-equipped for work of any university. Employability is something we take seriously at UEA, and the New Science Building is central to ensuring that UEA continues to produce leading UK scientists.

Anything else to add?

I’ll just say another thank you to everybody who is helping to give our science students a platform from which they can push at the limits of their abilities and achieve more than they thought possible. The New Science Building will continue to make a far-reaching impact across the scientific economy and address the STEM skills shortage. It’s a very exciting time for all of us in the Science Faculty.

Left: A design detail of the building’s architecture.

Above: Professor Mark Searcey, Pro-Vice Chancellor for Science at UEA.

Below: An artist’s impression of the completed exterior.