Biological Sciences Build to Support Construction Jobs in Belfast

Queen’s University Belfast unveiled the foundation stone for its new £39 million School of Biological Sciences last month. The new School will be a key driver for the development and future growth of the life sciences and agri-food sectors in Northern Ireland, which currently employ some 80,000 people and generate more than £5.5 billion in sales each year.

Building the new School will also support 550 jobs in the construction sector, including staff from the main contractor O’Hare and McGovern, and a range of other firms. Based  in Chlorine Gardens in Belfast, it will offer teaching and research facilities for its 750 students and 170 staff, who will tackle some of the world’s most pressing issues.

Due to open in 2018, the building will provide the facilities to help grow our life sciences sector, especially in areas such as agriculture/food science, food safety, disease/infection biology, diagnostics, waste management, ecosystems and the environment. The Life and Health Sciences and Agri-Food sectors are key to driving future economic prosperity in Northern Ireland. The Life Science graduates who will be trained within the new building will underpin these areas and help facilitate future growth. 

Speaking ahead of the unveiling, Queen’s President and Vice-Chancellor, Professor Patrick Johnston, said: “Today is a momentous occasion for the life sciences and agri-food sectors here in Northern Ireland, and further afield. Queen’s new School of Biological Sciences will be a power-house for these sectors, both of which have been identified as cornerstones of Northern Ireland’s future prosperity. From food safety to disease and infection control, the work housed in our new School will not only be of global significance and importance, it will also impact positively on everyone’s lives here in Northern Ireland.”