The University of Queensland’s Moreton Bay Research Station, located on North Stradbroke Island, is throwing open its doors to the public to celebrate its 55th Anniversary.
Jointly established by CSIRO and The University of Queensland in 1949 as a research and teaching facility, for the past 55 years it has been a leading research and education centre for the Moreton Bay region.
The site was originally chosen for the availability of the buildings, the richness of local fauna and habitats, the relatively safe anchorage and isolation from human impacts.
It is for these same reasons researchers and students come to Stradbroke Island still today.
The public is invited to come and view the facilities and work of the station on Sunday, November 28, from 10am to 3pm, the same weekend as the Stradbroke Island Oyster festival.
The open day will also see the official opening of the recently completed research laboratories.
The research station was rebuilt in 2000 and features a modern, fully equipped teaching laboratory and lecture theatre, a large research laboratory, a UQ linked computer room and library, living quarters for more than 70 people.
“We have recently completed the development of four new specialty laboratories.” said station manager Kevin Townsend.
“This means we will be attracting even more cutting-edge research teams into the Moreton Bay region.”
Event coordinator and Education Officer Dr Kathy Townsend said the open day gives members of the community an opportunity to find out about some of the marine life that lives in the area, as well as informing people about the extensive research being carried out in the Moreton Bay area from the research station.
“There will be plenty of activities for both young and old souls including guided tours of the station and foreshore, exhibits of local marine creatures and art by local artists, topical research seminars, shark dissections, a marine animal quiz with prizes and even a sausage sizzle!” said Dr Townsend
A touch tank as well as shark and ray tanks will showcase some of the creatures commonly found in Moreton Bay while the popular “Marine Mystery Animal Quiz” tests people’s marine identification skills with UQ prize packs for the winners.
Children must be accompanied by an adult and it is recommended that old sports shoes be worn on the guided tours of the sandy flat and rocky shores in front of the Station.
For further information, including public transport to the island, visit www.marine.uq.edu.au/mbrs/getting.htm or contact Moreton Bay Research Station on 3409 9058.
The station is located at the corner of Flinders Avenue and Fraser Street, Dunwich, North Stradbroke Island.
Media: for more information contact Dr Kathy Townsend (telephone 3409 9058, email mbrs@uq.edu.au ) or Andrew Dunne at UQ Communications (telephone 3365 2802).
