News

Urenco helps fund new science centre at Chester Zoo to fight global extinction crisis

08 November 2024

A new science centre which will play a “significant role” in the conservation of the world’s most threatened species has opened at Chester Zoo with support from Urenco.

The new centre, which is triple the size of the zoo’s previous lab facilities, will now enable the zoo to significantly expand its scientific capacity, particularly in the specialist areas of conservation physiology and reproduction, and boost its conservation training programme.

Home to 37,000 animals from more than 500 species, the zoo is already at the forefront of vital research to protect species from extinction. It currently runs more than 200 research projects, has produced more than 2,000 scientific communications, including 270 peer-reviewed publications, and has provided training for over 70 graduate level students over the last decade.

Urenco provided a six figure donation as part of our social impact programme to form partnerships with key organisations in the areas in which we operate. Our support of the zoo first started in 2013 and is focused on boosting environmental sustainability and educating the next generation of conservationists.

CEO of Urenco, Boris Schucht, commented:

“Our two organisations have shared sustainability goals in protecting the environment and promoting Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education. We are driven by the need to create a sustainable future for all inhabitants of this planet.

“At Urenco, we believe that our role in creating fuel for nuclear power plants to generate low carbon energy is a critical part of this, helping to ensure a clean, net zero world. We look forward to continuing our joint work with Chester Zoo for many years to come.”

Conservation Science and Policy Director at Chester Zoo, Dr Simon Dowell, added:

“Conservation zoos like ours are well aligned to making significant contributions to global international targets to halt and reverse species loss. Zoos are unique among conservation organisations as we’re not only custodians of biologically important and diverse animal and plant populations, but together we also reach more than 700 million visitors a year.

“As a major wildlife charity, we’re able to work with these visitors, as well as communities, business and policy makers to inform, inspire and empower a step-change to more pro-conservation behaviour. But we can’t do that on the scale required without funding, which is why partnerships such as this long standing one with Urenco are so important to us. It helps us to do more and faster, to meet the accelerating environmental and climate concerns we’re faced with.”

The specialised facility is equipped with state-of-the-art technology to assess the health of plants and animals, from Komodo dragons to rhinos, a demonstration lab to help train future conservationists and a special cryo-conservation unit, where genetics from endangered species will be preserved in liquid nitrogen at -196°C. 

It also houses Europe’s largest dedicated wildlife endocrinology lab, which allows scientists to study and track hormone levels in animals to further understand their reproductive biology. 

As part of the association, Urenco has cemented its dedication to advancing science, empowering real world conservation efforts, safeguarding species and habitats for future generations.

For more details on the project please visit:

www.chesterzoo.org

www.urenco.com