International academics from Canada and Germany are in Belfast for two days, to share their knowledge and expertise on environmental issues.

QUESTOR (Queen's University Environmental, Science and Technology Centre) hosted a seminar yesterday and will host another today.

Supported by Belfast City Council and the Building Sustainable Prosperity Programme, the seminars explore new proposals and findings on monitoring water contamination, tools for removing contaminants from the environment and processes to produce energy from waste.

Established in 1989 at Queen's University Belfast, QUESTOR remains the only Industry/University Co-operative Research Centre to operate outside the United States. Its current partners are Dublin City University and the Stevens Institute of Technology (New Jersey, USA).

And following initial links made during a Belfast City Council led fact finding visit to Halifax, Nova Scotia (Canada) in 2004, it's now welcoming academic experts from Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia to its ranks.

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Councillor Michael Browne, Chairman of Belfast City Council's Development Committee, said: "We've identified the environmental industries as a key sector to support in making Belfast more economically competitive – and we recognise that engaging international expertise is vital in giving our companies a head start.

"I'm delighted that a partnership between Queen's University Belfast and Dalhousie University Halifax has come about as a direct result of our fostering relationships with Halifax Nova Scotia. This is yet another sign that Belfast is becoming a truly international city".

Director of the Centre, Dr Wilson McGarel, said he was very proud that QUESTOR is leading the way in environmental research in Europe.

QUESTOR provides its member companies with focused environmental research to enable them to develop their products and services. Members span environmental regulators and environmentally responsible companies, ranging in size from large multi-national corporations through to forward looking SMEs.

This week will also see QUESTOR's membership boosted by the signing of six new members: Belfast City Council, Applied Silicate Technologies Ltd (Northern Ireland), Glenfarm Holdings Ltd (Northern Ireland), FLI Environmental Ltd (Republic of Ireland), T.E. Laboratories Ltd (Republic of Ireland) and Modern Water Ltd (England).

QUESTOR's research resources are also being boosted by expertise from the University of Duisburg - Essen (Germany) and IWW – the North Rhine Westphalia Institute for Water Research (Germany).

(GK/JM)