University Marine Biological Station Millport
Front page
Threatened closure of UMBSM
University of London decision
At its meeting on 20 March 2013, the Board of Trustees (the governing body of the University of London) decided to close the University Marine Biological Station Millport in December 2013. This follows the withdrawal of funding from the Higher Education Funding Council for England for UMBSM. The University cannot sustain the resulting deficit in the Station's finances.
The Scottish Government has organised meetings of interested parties in Scotland to investigate what alternative arrangements might be made for the management of the UMBSM. However, without Government support, none of the Scottish universities is willing to take responsibility for UMBSM individually or collectively. The University of London continues to welcome any suggestions from interested parties to help secure a long term viable future for UMBSM.
The staff of UMBSM are extremely grateful for the support given by our many colleagues, former, current and future students, and members of the public through the change.org petition, the Facebook campaign, the media, and other means. The numerous positive comments testify to a widespread appreciation of the importance of marine field teaching in training future environmental scientists, and the unique qualities of the Millport site for delivering this.
Links
- University of London press release, 31 Jan 2013
- Outcome of HEFCE review, 6 Dec 2012
- Scottish Government press release
- change.org Petition raised by Prof. Mark Blaxter, University of Edinburgh
- Facebook campaign by the local community of the Isle of Cumbrae
- STV News item, 20 Mar 2013
- BBC News item, 17 Jan 2013