MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Magallanes/Tasmania universities set to increase close links

The Dean of Tasmania University recently visited Punta Arenas in the extreme south of Chile a special guest of the Magallanes University. The two institutions have close links in Antarctic research and climate change projects.

Dean Daryl Le Grew underlined the strategic position of the University of Magallanes in all fields related to Antarctica given its geographical closeness and long established research in the southern pole. "We have on going programs with the Antarctic Programs research office of the University of Magallanes", said Le Grew who has previously other Chilean universities in Santiago and Valdivia. He also pointed out the joint investigations on climate change undertaken by both universities and which Australia would like to see increased. "Antarctica has become world barometer in terms of climate change; therefore the significance of the close links between Magallanes and Tasmania and their individual and joint contribution to science". Dean Le Grew said that the University of Tasmania was looking for more researchers in Antarctica related fields "but we would also like to see a more fluid exchange in engineering, computer technology, liberal arts and social sciences. We're very much interested in establishing a regular exchange program with Magallanes University", he said.