Uni Tas announces an MOU for the Centre for Antarctic and Southern Ocean Technology, in partnership with the Australian Antarctic Division and CSIRO

Apparently, it will, “advance Australia’s interest in Antarctica by building Tasmania’s status as a global polar research hub.”

But where, you ask (oh, go on) is the Special Research Initiative in Excellence for Antarctic Science? This Monash U led consortium was announced last year, with $35m over seven years from the feds (CMM April 20 2020). Members are museums, public research institutions and 11 universities – none of which are in Tasmania.

“The MoU is a commitment to establishing a hub in Tasmania which is a vital gateway to the Antarctic. It is a reflection of the spirit of co-operation that runs through the Antarctic community here,” a U Tas representative says.