Arts, science initiatives unveiled by University of Melbourne
Media Release, Wednesday 31 August 2005
Two exciting initiatives in the arts and in science have been unveiled by the University of Melbourne.
The University of Melbourne Vice-Chancellor, Professor Glyn Davis announced the initiatives – a feasibility study for a new Conservatorium of Music and a strategic alliance between the University, the Howard Florey Institute and the Mental Health Research Institute - at the University’s annual Town and Gown Dinner this week.
The University and the Victorian Government are jointly funding a feasibility study for a Conservatorium of Music at Southbank.
The Conservatorium would seek to bring together – while retaining their individual identities - the University’s Faculty of Music, the music school at the Victorian College of the Arts, the Australian National Academy of Music and a new School of Operatic Performance.
The University and the Victorian Government have each committed $50,000 towards the feasibility study on the proposal.
Welcoming the Victorian Government’s commitment to the study, Professor Davis believes it is time to build on Melbourne's great musical heritage. "A new Melbourne Conservatorium can create more opportunities for young musicians and a greater presence in the city for training in opera performance.
"By bringing together three well-established and internationally-respected music training institutions and an exciting new venture in opera training, the new Conservatorium will be well-set to capture the pre-eminent position for performance training in music in Australia and in our region.
“It can make Melbourne an internationally-acclaimed location on the music education map.”
In medical science, a strategic alliance forged between the University and two of Australia’s key health research institutes could put Victoria at the forefront of neuroscience research.
The strategic alliance brings the University, the Howard Florey Institute and the Mental Health Research Institute together to plan a new Australian Centre for Neuroscience Research which would be the strongest centre of neuroscience expertise in Australia.
Professor Davis says understanding of the brain, the nervous and sensory systems, and the mind is the next great medical frontier.
“With the Howard Florey, the Mental Health Research Institute and other key partners, we want to create one of the great world centres for cognitive sciences – a centre that is at the forefront in both research and clinical excellence."
Professor Davis says the proposed Centre would complement the development of the Parkville precinct and provide outstanding opportunities for staff and student collaboration in a range of medical institutions and University departments.
More information:
Christina Buckridge
Senior Media Advisor
Tel: 8344 6158
Mobile: 0412 101 316
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