A new state-of-the-art science facility opens today, two months ahead of schedule, thanks to £5million funding through the Government's innovative Science Research Investment Fund (SRIF). The SRIF fund was designed to give direct support to strengthen and develop the UK's science and engineering base by providing funding to update and build new university facilities.The University of Central Lancashire's (UCLan) new £10million facility, the Darwin Building, was funded through part of the £570million SRIF2 announced in February 2003.
The new building will house the Departments of Biological Sciences and Psychology – both from UCLan's Faculty of Science. The government has already invested over £145m in the North West of England through SRIF1 and SRIF2 and has seen other successful developments come to fruition, including Liverpool John Moores University Robotic Telescope improvements.Science and Innovation Minister, Lord Sainsbury said:
