A pioneering global research centre for earth and marine science and technology based at Heriot-Watt University has been opened by the Deputy First Minister John Swinney. Bringing together the expertise of the British Geological Survey with the academic innovation of Heriot-Watt, the Lyell Centre will ensure future generations of researchers are equipped and capable of meeting the global science and technology challenges facing the world. Through championing innovation, collaboration and enterprise, this Scottish-based research facility is tackling some of the major issues of natural resource and energy supply and security in a sustainable way. Work underway at Lyell by world leading academics and scientists is already looking at solutions to critical global problems - from protecting coastal ecosystems, to understanding how our inland waterways will cope with future needs; from tackling the effects of climate change in Sub-Saharan Africa to finding deep-sea mining solutions that work within our global environment.