FULL STEM AHEAD

STEM project aims to link together all parts of Tasmania

A REPORT on the benefits of a $400 million STEM centre in Hobart’s CBD outlines how the centre would become a game-changer for the state’s economy and education outcomes.

The new report, prepared by the Nous Group for the University of Tasmania, outlines a vision in which Hobart’s STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) centre, left, would co-ordinate with nodes in Launceston and Burnie to share the benefits of knowledge across the state.

The vision comes as momentum builds for a STEM centre to potentially be the foundation of a Hobart City Deal.

THE $400 million Hobart STEM centre would form the centrepiece of a new “innovation network” across Tasmania which would help reshape the state’s economy, a report obtained by the Mercury says.

The report, Tasmanian Innovation Network — the Hobart Precinct was prepared by the Nous Group for the University of Tasmania.

It outlines a vision in which Hobart’s STEM centre co-ordinates with “nodes” in Launceston and Burnie, to share the benefits of knowledge across the state.

Its release comes as momentum builds across all levels of government for a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) Centre in the CBD to potentially be the foundation of a Hobart City Deal.

The matter is due to be discussed at next week’s Local Government Association of Tasmania annual meeting.

The university and supporters of the project say it would have statewide benefits, with smaller STEM campuses set to be established in Launceston and Burnie, thereby alleviating any concerns about the regions not benefiting directly from any capital-city investment.

It also would “inspire more young people to engage with science by creating highly visible interactive spaces and galleries that showcase discovery, creativity and innovation”, the report says.

And by moving the STEM subjects into the city from Sandy Bay, it would “make it easier for students from Hobart’s northern and eastern suburbs to attend university by reducing commute times”.

The report compares Hobart’s potential with projects such as the Grand Canal Dock in Dublin and the Uni- versity of Wollongong innovation Campus.

The report says a “Tasmanian Innovation Network (TASNET) would connect STEM “nodes” in Burnie and Launceston with a central “Hobart Innovation Precinct” hub.

The Hobart precinct would bring together the IMAS building, the Medical Science 2 (Menzies) Centre, the Creative Exchange Institute proposed for 2019 and a STEM centre in Melville St into a centralised education hub.

UTAS vice-chancellor Peter Rathjen said a statewide network would enable experts across many fields to share the benefits of their work.

“We don’t want mathematicians only talking to mathematicians now, we want them talking to agricultural scientists, to medicos and the like,” Professor Rathjen said.

“The hub would be headquartered in Hobart and the problems they tackle would be meaningful across the state.

“A node of that STEM facility would be at Inveresk in Launceston, where they might focus on defence and another node would be at Burnie where they would focus on applied agriculture,” he said.

Prof Rathjen said the interdisciplinary research would help industry development.

“They can focus on what Tasmania needs and the headquarters would be in Hobart with the results to be applied in the North and North-West.”