UCC welcomes opening of Fota Wildlife Park’s Education, Conservation and Research Centre

28 Jun 2024

Fota Wildlife Park’s new sustainably built Education, Conservation and Research Centre (ECRC) was officially opened on 28 June by Michael McGrath, TD, Kieran O’Donnell, TD the Minister of State for the Office of Public Works, and the Minister of State for Nature, Heritage and Electoral Reform, Malcolm Noonan, TD.

The Education, Conservation and Research Centre, “Understanding Our Sustainable Future” was developed at a cost of €5.5 million and was co funded by the Government of Ireland via the Office of the Public Works and Fota Wildlife Park (€2 million from the Office of Public Works and €3.5 million from Fota Wildlife Park).

Michael McGrath, TD said, “I am delighted to be present to mark the official opening of Fota Wildlife Park’s Education, Conservation and Research Centre. This is a project for which the Government was pleased to provide significant financial support and represents the latest stage in Fota Wildlife Park’s evolution since its opening in 1983.

I would like to congratulate Director Sean McKeown, the members of the board and all who have been involved in this complex project which is a significant landmark as part of delivering the Fota 2030 vision.

Fota Wildlife Park is a much-loved institution in Cork, evoking happy memories for tens of thousands of people who have visited with family, friends and school groups over the years. This development will provide the chance for undergraduate and postgraduate students to avail of formal and informal educational and research opportunities in a state-of-the-art location.”

The completion of this sustainably built, passive design development underscores Fota Wildlife Park's 40th anniversary commitment to being a leading contributor to the conservation of national and global biodiversity through education, research, the breeding of endangered species and by actively supporting conservation projects worldwide.

The new ECRC features a 265-seater auditorium, an atrium, three state of the art classrooms, and a dedicated research centre which will provide significant opportunities to undergraduate and postgraduate students in University College Cork and national and international third level institutions.

Sean McKeown, Director of Fota Wildlife Park said, “I am delighted to introduce the new Education, Conservation and Research Centre, which is the next step in Fota Wildlife Park’s ambitious, 10-year strategic plan ‘Fota 2030 Vision’, to be one of Europe’s top zoological institutions in terms of our three pillar values – Conservation, Education and Research. I am thrilled to welcome Michael McGrath, TD, Minister Kieran O’Donnell for the Office of Public Works and Minister Malcolm Noonan for Nature and Heritage who are officiating the opening today.

I want to sincerely express our deepest gratitude to the support and financial contribution of the Government of Ireland via the OPW. Without their support, the construction of this new complex would have remained a distant dream. Here, we place education, conservation, and research at the heart of our endeavours, weaving them into the very fabric of our mission, and solidifying their significance in our collective journey.”

This year more than 20,000 students will study at the Education, Conservation and Research Centre, making Fota Wildlife Park Munster's largest provider of outdoor education. The new ECRC will enable Fota Wildlife Park to expand its formal and informal educational and research opportunities for students. The ECRC also provides Fota Wildlife Park with a large indoor space to host lectures, conferences, and corporate events.

Professor Sarah Culloty, Head, College of Science Engineering and Food Science, UCC and Board Member of Fota Wildlife Park commented, "I would like to congratulate Fota Wildlife Park on the launch of their state-of-the-art Education, Conservation, and Research Centre. This facility champions sustainability, education, and conservation in a multifunctional and inclusive space. We are also delighted that UCC’s longstanding partnership with Fota will enable our students to enhance their studies through direct engagement with the centre".