New £30m science building opened at UEA

WATCH: ITV Anglia's Kate Prout went to see Dr Goodall open the new building.

A state-of-the-art science building has been opened at the University of East Anglia (UEA).

The four storey facility was opened by world-famous scientist Dr Jane Goodall, who is renown for her work on chimpanzees.

It has cost £30m and will be used by staff and students from the Environmental Science, Computing, Biology, Physics, Engineering, Chemistry and Pharmacy departments.

The ground floor consists of seminar rooms while the other three are made up of laboratories.

Dr Goodall, who is in Norwich to deliver a keynote speech as part of the city's Science Festival, runs the Roots and Shoots conservation organisation in over 50 countries.

Dr Goodall said: "I am delighted to have the opportunity to see this new building today and look forward to developing an ongoing relationship with UEA and discussing the potential for Roots & Shoots."

The university claim it is one of the most accessible buildings at any institution in the country.

Dr Katherine Deane, Access Ambassador and senior lecturer in the School of Health Sciences at UEA, said: "A lot of the accessible features in the New Science Building seem like minor innovations to a lot of people but they make such a huge difference to those who really need them.

"Over 8% of UEA students have a declared disability, and they have the same rights to access education as anyone else, so it's fantastic that they have been considered from the outset and we've delivered a building that is accessible for everyone on our campus and beyond."